Developing a Realistic View of Self
•Adopt a positive, realistic perspective: Accept yourself as you are and strive to get along with yourself.
•Foster a positive view of others, identifying with all humanity—being non-judgmental and free of prejudice.
•Embrace the courage to be open to new experiences, accepting the possibility of making mistakes—what can be called "the courage to be imperfect."
•Surround yourself with others who are also striving to become fully-functioning human beings, as exemplified by the way Jesus gathered disciples.
A crucial part of acceptance is seeing oneself accurately and realistically. While supportive classrooms and accepting teachers can help, only self-evaluation ultimately provides an honest view of oneself. Teachers should encourage students to evaluate themselves continuously. Through self-evaluation, individuals learn the value of self-discovery and self-analysis. Mistakes are easier to accept when uncovered through personal reflection. Both strengths and weaknesses become more evident when discovered independently.