The Enneagram and Self-Acceptance to Liberate Ourselves – Guest Post by Russ Hudson
In my many years of teaching the Enneagram, I have noticed some of the key elements that seem to help people on their developmental journey…
… as well as the ways that these elements frequently get misunderstood — whether we are studying the Enneagram or are pursuing other paths and practices.
One of the most vital ingredients for real growth, yet one that tends to be difficult for all of us, is self-acceptance.
It takes most of us a while before we can really get a sense of what self-acceptance means.
We are so habituated to giving ourselves a hard time that it seems like a questionable or even risky orientation. But to learn to truly meet ourselves exactly where we are is absolutely key to unlocking the patterns that we tend to get stuck in.
Self-acceptance is the development of a more awake and merciful attitude toward ourselves, including our ego self.
We gain nothing by rejecting ourselves — and actually, that is a way that the destructive part of our ego stays in business.
At the same time, self-acceptance does not mean giving our destructive habits a free pass. It is not a ticket to self-indulgence or to resting comfortably in the ways we are asleep to ourselves.
The practice of self-acceptance can open doors like no other.
Rightly understood, the Enneagram is an enormous help in coming to terms with the truth of who we are…
… all the way from our darkest thoughts and impulses to our realizations of ourselves as beings of presence, awareness, and love.
I hope you will consider joining me for this exploration.
As far as I can tell, no matter how long we have been on our path, we can all use some further awareness and support around the practice of self-acceptance.
– Thanks to Russ Hudson for this guest post. To learn more, and take the next steps with him, register for his free class, “Living an Enneagram-Informed Life.”
(He is also a featured teacher in each year's Enneagram Global Summit – which typically airs in Dec.)