The unit I’m doing this semester is Applied Counselling, and so far, the content has introduced us to the basic skills of counselling, one of which is termed reflection of feelings. In the textbook is a table of words that divides feelings into strong, moderate and mild.
I thought about this and a couple of words came to mind. The first was 'chosen'. To be chosen to the exclusion of all others, to be a person's number one favourite person and for them to be yours. Someone can love you without wholeheartedly choosing you, all of you and all that you bring. The other word was 'safe'. To feel absolutely 100% safe with someone. Safe to be yourself with someone always. To be your honest vulnerable unapologetic self and for that to be ok, is to be safe and for me that is much more than just being loved. I guess it is the same as being genuinely accepted for all that you are. The challenge is that to truly feel safe with someone, you must risk that safety without a guaranteed outcome. In the same way that trust gained is by trust risked, safety gained is also by safety risked. When someone makes you feel 100% safe though, that is the ultimate love.
I’d probably lean more towards “adored”. Mainly because I can accept someone without loving them, but I don’t feel I can love someone properly without accepting them. I suppose it’s quite a subjective thing.
The first word that came to me was ‘adored’ then I read the other comments. Not plagiarism, honestly!
I thought about this and a couple of words came to mind. The first was 'chosen'. To be chosen to the exclusion of all others, to be a person's number one favourite person and for them to be yours. Someone can love you without wholeheartedly choosing you, all of you and all that you bring. The other word was 'safe'. To feel absolutely 100% safe with someone. Safe to be yourself with someone always. To be your honest vulnerable unapologetic self and for that to be ok, is to be safe and for me that is much more than just being loved. I guess it is the same as being genuinely accepted for all that you are. The challenge is that to truly feel safe with someone, you must risk that safety without a guaranteed outcome. In the same way that trust gained is by trust risked, safety gained is also by safety risked. When someone makes you feel 100% safe though, that is the ultimate love.
I’d probably lean more towards “adored”. Mainly because I can accept someone without loving them, but I don’t feel I can love someone properly without accepting them. I suppose it’s quite a subjective thing.
Where is “self-acceptance”?