Often times we have good intentions, but life’s circumstances forces us to make poor decisions. As a result, those decisions may hurt the people we care about including ourselves. We then carry around the guilt of those decisions day to day as more harmful interactions with others manifest. How do you break this cycle? How do you “Forgive Yourself”?
On the surface, forgiving one’s self should be an easy thing to do right? I mean surly you should be able to exonerate the one person you are thought to love the most? However in reality, it can easily be one of the most difficult things you will ever accomplish in life. This is perhaps because forgiveness at its center is a purely emotional act that theoretically involves key memory functions of the brain and nervous system. Not to fear, here are a few steps you can take to make forgiving yourself easier:
- Admit you were wrong – The first and possibly most important step to self-forgiveness is admitting you were wrong. This can also be the most difficult step to take as it makes you the most vulnerable. In this scenario though, vulnerability is your alley. It is what will enable you to truthfully express and release whatever emotions are holding your brain hostage. Admit you were wrong and allow yourself to feel whatever comes next.
- Apologize – After admitting fault, it’s time to apologize for what you did. A real apology often times forces you to face the fear and anxiety of reaping the consequences for your actions. This is a vital step towards recovering your sense of peace and comfort around those who you may have wronged, including yourself. Don’t skip this step!
- Give Yourself a Break – Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We constantly find fault in our own decisions and punish ourselves for falling short on goals we set. We treat ourselves with disdain and contempt for not living up to our unrealistic expectations of what we feel we should have accomplished. Take a break from judging yourself to allow time for healing.
There is little in life more freeing or transforming than the feeling you get when you know you have been forgiven for something laying heavy on your conscience. So, forgive yourself…
If you have other methods to offer or otherwise, please share your thoughts in the reply box below. Also, please share this post if you are so inclined. Thank you for your time!