Taking the long view

The long view is accepting who we are, what we think, and being our authentic self will maximize all that is good in our life.  We each have a unique road to travel in gaining self acceptance/self realization.  We recognize that path by the vitality, joy, inspiration and sense of well being we experience when we're traveling our unique path. Obstacles are created in our life by thoughts that are not accurate.  Many of those inaccurate thoughts are unconscious.  When we encounter obstacles, I believe the thing to do is to listen to the thoughts that are responsible.  In my experience, accepting the thoughts responsible for my problems allows me to open up to become aware of more accurate thoughts I can act on, thereby improving my situation.  I know I've identified accurate thoughts worthy of acting on when I experience peace with that thought. One of the obstacles in my life and the lives of many others is the habit of looking for acceptance from others rather than being accepting of our self.  Self acceptance is the only acceptance that satisfies.  Paradoxically, the more we accept and value our self, the more others reflect that back to us by accepting and valuing us.  I've tried to gain acceptance by being what I think others want me to be.  It  doesn't work for me and I've never seen that work for anyone else either.  I love the Oscar Wilde quote, "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken".