Stella Reddy's Story of Hope

There’s something deeply liberating about learning to accept yourself—your thoughts, your feelings, your failures, and your successes—without constantly chasing approval from others. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. But it’s also one of the most transformative. It has been for me!

This has always been something I have struggled with due to my mobility issues. It’s hard to accept that, physically, I can’t do things the way I used to, not even as I could last year. That truth can feel isolating—but it’s also a powerful starting point for self-compassion.

Self-acceptance isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty. It’s about standing in front of the mirror and saying, “This is me. Flawed, evolving, and still worthy.” It’s about letting go of the need to be liked, praised, or validated at every turn. That doesn’t mean you stop caring—it means you stop crumbling when others don’t see your worth.

When you accept yourself, you permit yourself to try new things. To stumble. To learn. You stop fearing failure because you know it doesn’t define you. You stop fearing judgment because you’ve already made peace with who you are. That kind of inner stability is powerful—it’s the foundation for real growth.

My office is a mess—and honestly, it’s been that way for over a month. It isn’t dirty, just unorganized, and no one bothers me about it. I have pill bottles (even some empty ones), full baskets that need sorting, and a couple of piles of papers that need going through and being put away. My shredder is broken, so I’m having to tear up documents as I go along, of what I don’t want to keep. The rest will find its way into my tote.

I’ve been putting off reorganizing and cleaning it, caught between fatigue, body pain, and the endless shuffle of priorities that require my limited energy. My hubby won’t touch it without me asking for his help, as it is my space. It’s not just an office; it’s also our storage space with a few totes piled up and a full cabinet, squeezed into the limited corners of our home.  And while the clutter nags at me, I’ve learned to accept that I only have so much energy to go around. I am okay with that, as I know I will get to it.

Self-acceptance is a practice. Some days you’ll feel strong and grounded. Other days, you’ll feel like you’re unravelling. That’s okay. The point is to keep showing up for yourself. To keep choosing compassion over criticism. To keep reminding yourself that you are enough, even when the world tries to convince you otherwise.

One of the major things I have had to accept about myself? I will not be able to let go of being bullied by toxic people until they are held to account in some way for their behaviour online. It’s about accountability for me.

So if you’re in the middle of figuring yourself out—if you’re navigating the messy, beautiful process of becoming—know that you’re not alone. And know that every time you choose to accept yourself, you’re choosing freedom.

You deserve that.