7 Ways To Embrace Your Flaws (& Be Awesome)

Let's face it, we are all flawed.

Yes I said it. We are all flawed in some way, shape or form and although we all want to deny, hide or avoid our flaws - sometimes they are inescapable. I am speaking from experience.

For many, self-acceptance is hard to come by on a good day. On a bad day, when you’ve made a mistake or two, don’t like how you look or feel absolutely miserable, your self-acceptance fades fast and you begin to only focus on your flaws. Fortunately, self-acceptance is something we can nurture. I invite you to look at it as a skill that you can practice; versus an innate trait that you either have or don’t.

"What if we could all be up-front and accepting of the things we don't like about ourselves? Well, we can. It's a matter of getting a handle on how we look at these things."- Emily-Anne Rigal's book FLAWD: How to Stop Hating on Yourself, Others, and the Things That Make You Who You Are.

The real question shouldn't be about avoidance but rather acceptance. Acceptance of your flaws, understanding them, building upon them and wait for it (dramatic pause)...celebrate them. I did an enormous amount of research on this topic and compiled what I believe are seven practical tips on how to reclaim your flawsome today:

1. Acknowledge what's bothering you. Without understanding the root of your concerns; it's hard to come to terms with your flaws. Dig deep and see if there are issues beneath the flaws that you need to address.
2. Use your flaws to guide self-improvement. Embracing your flaws doesn't mean you can't improve yourself. In some cases, recognizing certain flaws gives you the opportunity to work on those imperfections. If your flaw is something you want to change, go for it!
3. Appreciate your individuality. Your flaws may make you different from everybody else, but that's a good thing! Don't make the mistake of trying to fit the mold. 
4. Don't let your flaws hold you back. You don't have to look far to find magical and amazing individuals across the history of time who have embraced some type of set back and went on to achieve greatness. 
5. Put things in perspective. Instead of focusing on everything that's bothering you, grab a notepad and jot down three things you are grateful for. This small but powerful exercise is a great mindfulness practice to elicit some ease and freedom.
6. Google it. If your flaw is something physical, Google it. That's right. Type "overweight" or "big nose" in the search box and search images. Warning: You'll see some extreme images (some digitally altered), but it will put things into perspective. Sometimes we are so emotionally attached we can't see what we should be grateful for.
7. Flip your flaw. If you can find the strength in your flaw, you're a lot more likely to own it. For example, if you've always considered yourself quiet and shy, that could mean you're an astute observer as well as introspective. The choice is yours to both discover and label.

If you're interested in a more detailed step-by-step process on how to recognize your flaws while owning your greatness, click on this article

Final thoughts: Please know that you are not flawed but actually unique and I want you to remember that the next time you feel less than yourself. Your flaws make you unique and you're in great company when you think about some of the most incredible people, places and things in the world. This uniqueness is a gift and it's aptly called being flawsome. 

The floor is yours: How do you embrace your flawsome? 

Please leave your comment below as your insights are greatly appreciated and a learning opportunity for everyone reading this article.

With leadership,                                                                                                         Joshua www.JoshHMiller.com

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