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In a systematic and practical approach to ongoing self-forgiveness, the first step, as always, is to center yourself as the judge in your loving heart. Once you have that sense of being centered, identify the judgments you’ve held against yourself for so long, and then choose to forgive yourself. For some of us, it may be an uphill journey, and it’s essential to focus on your emotions. Firstly, acknowledge your mistakes out loud and think of each mistake as a learning experience. Give yourself permission to set this process in motion. Don’t underestimate the value of a valid conversation with your inner critic. Remember, forgiving yourself begins with you.

An in-depth exploration is an effective way to start forgiving yourself. To get to the core of ‘why you did what you did,’ identify the causes and conditions. By understanding the origins of your behavior and the factors that might have influenced you, you can gain a clearer perspective.

Perhaps you made a mistake because you were too young to know any better, or you were careless, not paying attention, or your mind wasn’t in the right place. Maybe you were unaware of your priorities, acted out of fear or selfishness, or followed what you were taught to do. It’s possible you did it out of revenge or because you were in pain yourself. You might have wanted to feel superior, or your life situation or environment pushed you in that direction. Whatever the reason, it’s important to be brutally honest with yourself about what motivated you. Based on your behavior, it’s much easier to change your beliefs and ultimately forgive yourself.

Now, through reasoning and reflection, we can conclude that those choices were made based on your mindset, life circumstances, level of understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and your level of consciousness. Back then, you simply didn’t know any better, so how can you blame yourself and carry the guilt for the rest of your life? While taking responsibility for your actions, don’t beat yourself up about them. Accept that you’re human, and give yourself the benefit of the doubt. In this journey of life, become your own best friend.

Taking time to laugh at your mistakes may sound unusual, but with practice, it can be very rewarding in the process.

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