Self-acceptance is the ability to understand and perceive oneself fully, including one’s strengths and weaknesses, accept oneself without any judgment or criticism, and with the only motive to progress, grow and reach the highest potential in life. One can accept oneself wholly, only when he is fully aware of himself and his truth. One can accept oneself fully, only when he has attained Self-Realization. Thus, Self-Realization is the foundation of self-acceptance. An individual attains Self-Realization when he understands and realizes the answers to the two most profound questions that also form the epicentre of Spirituality.

1. Who am I?
2. Why am I here?

The answer to the first question gives the truth of what the individual is – his true identity and the answer to the second question reveals the purpose of his birth on this earth. The answers of these two questions can be realized only when one attains Enlightenment and has the Realization of the Truth.

The first question – ‘Who am I?’ – is answered by the four principal statements or the Mahavakyas of the Vedas and Upanishads. The first Mahavakya says, ‘Neti, Neti. Tat Twam Asi,’ meaning, ‘Not this, not this. Thou Art That.’ It means that we are not this body, mind and ego that we identify ourselves with. Rather, we are the Atman, the Soul, the Spark Of Unique Life. The second Mahavakya says, ‘Ayam Atman Brahma,’ meaning, ‘The Atman or Soul is SIP, the Supreme Immortal Power that we call, God.’ It means that the Soul comes from the SIP and merges back into the SIP at its departure. It is a part of the Supreme Power, the Divine. The third principal statement says, ‘Aham Brahmasmi,’ meaning, ‘I am God.’ This statement means that every individual is a speck of God, the Supreme Power. Without the Divine, no one would have existed. The fourth Mahavakya states, ‘Prajnanam Brahma,’ meaning, ‘The wisdom and the intuition of SIP, the Supreme Immortal Power is everywhere and in everything.’ This means that everything that we see is a manifestation of the Divine. Answering the first question of Self-Realization and explaining the four Mahavakyas in a crux, it is, ‘I am the Soul; The Soul is SIP, the Supreme Immortal Power, the Divine; Therefore, I am SIP; And SIP is in all.’ Therefore, we are the Soul and a manifestation of the Divine, a part of the Divine.

The second question – ‘Why am I here?’ – is a deep Spiritual question about our existence in this world and our birth. Spirituality believes in the concept of rebirth and many lifetimes. It also believes in the Universal Law of Karma or actions that says, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ The Law of Karma records every action of the human being and gives the fruits of those actions eventually. The gross physical body may be the doer of these actions but the director is the subtle body – the Mind and Ego, ME. That is why when the body dies, the Mind and Ego carry the unredeemed Karma and take another birth with a different body to settle the Karmic accounts. Understanding why one has taken a birth on this earth under what circumstances and the reason, also makes one realize the purpose of life and attain Enlightenment. Thus, realizing the truth about oneself and one’s birth leads to Self-Realization. This is a huge milestone in Spirituality, a step towards realizing God and attaining Liberation or Moksha. Self-Realization also creates a strong foundation for self-acceptance of an individual.

What is Spiritual fulfillment? Spirituality is the science of the Spirit, the Atman or the Soul. The ultimate goal of Spirituality is to reach the stage of Spiritual Awakening, where one realizes his true self and realizes God. When an individual experiences contentment, knowing the tenets and values of Spirituality, begins to feel calm, experiences a deeper sense of inner peace, realizes his purpose in life and is in a state of bliss, aligning to the core beliefs of Spirituality and feels a deep connection with the Divine, we can say that he is experiencing Spiritual fulfillment. An individual experiencing Spiritual fulfillment lives his life realizing its full Spiritual potential. That individual is in a state of contentment, fulfillment, Consciousness, eternal bliss and everlasting happpiness because he has attained Enlightenment and the Realization of the Truth about himself.

Is there a connection between self-acceptance and Spiritual fulfillment? Yes, there is a deep connection between self-acceptance and Spiritual fulfillment. To be Spiritually fulfilled, one must deeply accept oneself and not criticize or judge thyself harshly. Embracing oneself wholly, along with all the flaws and imperfections is an important and necessary step towards finding a deeper meaning and purpose in life and this is often seen as a key element of Spiritual growth. Fully accepting oneself allows him to connect more authentically with his inner self and the world around him, leading to a sense of fulfillment on a Spiritual level. Self-acceptance means accepting one’s flaws and limitations. It reduces internal conflict, allowing for greater peace of mind, which is often seen as a foundation for spiritual development. Self-acceptance often involves practicing self-compassion and self-love, which extends to a broader sense of compassion for others, contributing to spiritual growth. Silence, Meditation and mindfulness techniques can be powerful tools to cultivate self-awareness and acceptance, facilitating a deeper connection to one’s inner Spiritual self. Self-acceptance, thus, leads one to experience Spiritual fulfillment. Self-acceptance helps one let go of negativity, past mistakes, burdens, baggages and limitations. It encourages one to release the burden of negative self-talk and self-criticism, creating space for positive Spiritual growth. Therefore, concluding the discussion, we can say that self-acceptance and Self-Realization helps an individual develop faith and connection with the Divine, helps him realize God, focus on the positive aspects of life even during challenges and cultivate a sense of faith, acceptance of the situation, total surrender to the Divine will, gratitude and appreciation, contributing to the overall wellbeing and Spiritual fulfillment of the individual.