Another Peek at the Chemical Peel

plus, finding self-compassion in unexpected places

Welcome readers, old and new!

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I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but this summer on the broiling streets of New York City, I’ve seen myself coming and going. By which I mean there is a robust squad of women, middle-aged and older, who appear to be dressing out of my closet in my exact same clothes and shoes. Midi-length shift, Birkenstocks, Apple watch, sunglasses (or sunglasses).

Sometimes there’s a ring or two; maybe a bracelet or a modest necklace. A number of these women have said to me in passing they thought I look nice. Thanks! Of course I do. I look just like you! On the one hand, it’s kind of fun to feel like I’m part of a trend; on the other, am I not thinking hard enough about what I wear?

Either way, I feel fine about it, which has to do with a topic close to my overheated heart these days: self-acceptance.

I was recently reintroduced to a bevy of studies that demonstrate how profound self-acceptance can be on your emotional and physical health. For example, without self-acceptance, automatic negative thoughts increase when dealing with an illness. And someone with more self-acceptance has increased gray matter in the regions of the brain that help control emotions and stress. So a lack of self-acceptance can actually disrupt emotional control. It’s not for naught that I keep harping about this exercise: Learn to see yourself as a person and, along with self-acceptance, you’ll likely find compassion lurking in places you haven’t noticed before. Like in the mirror.

Have you seen this woman?

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