Hi everyone, it's Rosie, welcome to Radio Headspace and to Friday.

So this week has been all about self-acceptance and the little nudges we need to help us get

there.

And for the final day on this topic, I thought it would be fitting to talk about my first

moment walking into a yoga studio.

That day I was filled with apprehension and discomfort.

I didn't know where to stand during class, what to wear, or even how to interact.

I remember hiding in my oversized black hoodie trying to become invisible while I navigated

this unfamiliar territory.

And there was always a nagging voice in my head telling me that I wasn't flexible enough,

I couldn't do these poses and ultimately that I didn't fit in.

Eventually, and with a lot of work, I found myself embraced by the loving community of that

studio.

I was able to work with those critical inner voices and found a second home.

So today, I want to talk about one of the biggest obstacles to self-acceptance that we

all experience, but rarely confront, comparing ourselves to others and not feeling adequate.

It's no surprise that we often find ourselves feeling less than or inadequate.

According to psychologists Leon Festinger's social comparison theory, it's actually

quite natural for us to compare ourselves with others.

And this can sometimes lead us to feel less than adequate if we perceive that we're not

measuring up.

In social media, for example, there was a 2021 study from the University of Copenhagen

...