--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It follows that I must accept myself for…" description: "\"It follows that I must accept myself for what I am before I can deliberately change it.\" — Christmas Humphreys" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/christmas-humphreys-37534_accept_it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for_2037629.png" --- # It follows that I must accept myself for what I am before… ![“It follows that I must accept myself for what I am before I can deliberately change it.” quote by Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/christmas-humphreys-37534_accept_it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for_2037629.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/christmas-humphreys-37534_accept_it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for_2037629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/christmas-humphreys-37534_accept_it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for_2037629.png) > “It follows that I must accept myself for what I am before I can deliberately change it.” [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑acceptance is the prerequisite for intentional self‑improvement. **In simple terms:** Accept yourself before you change. Key Takeaway Start with self‑acceptance. Themes self‑acceptance growth change Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - goal setting - habit formation Key Concepts psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself do you resist accepting? - How can acceptance fuel your growth? A Different Perspective Change is hard without self‑compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Only the human brain can deliberately change perceptions, change patterns, invent concepts and tolerate ambiguity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/only-the-human-brain-can-deliberately-change-perceptions-change/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [I didn't accept it. I received it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/i-didn-t-accept-it-i-received-it/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [Wisdom. . .is knowing what you have to accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/wisdom-is-knowing-what-you-have-to-accept/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Do not accept anything as love which lacks truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-stein/do-not-accept-anything-as-love-which-lacks-truth/) [Edith Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-stein/) > [It's O.K. to accept good fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/it-s-o-k-to-accept-good-fortune/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [it's best to accept life as it really is and not as I imagined it to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-best-to-accept-life-as-it-really-is-and-not-as-i-imagined-it-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Don't breed, don't buy, don't even accept giveaways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hoyt/don-t-breed-don-t-buy-don-t-even-accept-giveaways/) John Hoyt > [No one on earth can hurt you, unless you accept the hurt in your own mind. . . The problem is not other people;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/no-one-on-earth-can-hurt-you-unless-you-accept-the-hurt-in-your-own/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [The moment you accept yourself, you become beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-moment-you-accept-yourself-you-become-beautiful/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Accept The Movement, Everything Is Ok.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-prabhakar/accept-the-movement-everything-is-ok/) Rishi Prabhakar > [You can't have any successes unless you can accept failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/you-can-t-have-any-successes-unless-you-can-accept-failure/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [there is nothing to be done. only accept it... and hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/there-is-nothing-to-be-done-only-accept-it-and-hurt/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Accept the fact that you're never gonna be someone else and embrace the fact that the world needs you as God made you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/accept-the-fact-that-you-re-never-gonna-be-someone-else-and-embrace/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) ## More by Christmas Humphreys > [Life is one, said the Buddha, and the Middle Way to the end of suffering in all its forms is that which leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/life-is-one-said-the-buddha-and-the-middle-way-to-the-end-of/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [The fear of death is the fear of the end of an illusion; so long as the illusion persists so long will the fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/the-fear-of-death-is-the-fear-of-the-end-of-an-illusion-so-long-as/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [By god the Buddhist means that from which the universe was born, the unborn of the Buddhist scriptures, and by soul that factor in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/by-god-the-buddhist-means-that-from-which-the-universe-was-born-the/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [Our lives are based on what is reasonable and common sense; Truth is apt to be neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/our-lives-are-based-on-what-is-reasonable-and-common-sense-truth-is/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [Concentration is the creation of the instrument; meditation is the right use of it; contemplation transcends it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/concentration-is-the-creation-of-the-instrument-meditation-is-the/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [Even as radio waves are picked up wherever a set is tuned in to their wavelength, so the thoughts which each of us think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/even-as-radio-waves-are-picked-up-wherever-a-set-is-tuned-in-to-their/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [For the keynote of the law of Karma is equilibrium, and nature is always working to restore that equilibrium whenever through man's acts it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/for-the-keynote-of-the-law-of-karma-is-equilibrium-and-nature-is/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [The Road has two rules only: begin and continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/the-road-has-two-rules-only-begin-and-continue/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [When a builder builds he clears the ground for his new foundations. Then he sees that the basic structure will support the whole. Should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/when-a-builder-builds-he-clears-the-ground-for-his-new-foundations/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [As we increasingly become aware of the One Life breathing in each brother form of life, we learn the meaning of compassion, which literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/as-we-increasingly-become-aware-of-the-one-life-breathing-in-each/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) > [The burden of Karma is heavy. All alike have heavy debts to pay. Yet none, so the Wisdom teaches, is ever faced with more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/the-burden-of-karma-is-heavy-all-alike-have-heavy-debts-to-pay-yet/) [Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) [Explore all 12 Christmas Humphreys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) Chan Heng Chee > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It follows that I must accept myself for what I am before I can deliberately change it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christmas Humphreys" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for-what-i-am-before-i-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accept" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for-what-i-am-before-i-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/christmas-humphreys-37534_accept_it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for_2037629.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/christmas-humphreys-37534_accept_it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for_2037629.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/christmas-humphreys-37534_accept_it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for_2037629.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It follows that I must accept myself for what I am before I can deliberately change it.” — Christmas Humphreys", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christmas Humphreys", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christmas-humphreys/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It follows that I must accept...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for-what-i-am-before-i-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christmas-humphreys/it-follows-that-i-must-accept-myself-for-what-i-am-before-i-can/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```