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Steps to Forgive Yourself
So many people are able to forgive others, but for some reason, cannot seem to forgive themselves for things they have done in the past. If you find yourself in this position, why do you find it so hard to forgive yourself?
But don't worry, there is hope. I will share with you four steps that you can start practicing today that will help you learn how to forgive yourself.
Step 1: Accept It
The first thing you must do to be able to forgive yourself is to accept whatever happened. Do you find it hard to accept the mistake you made? Maybe you're telling yourself you can't believe you were so stupid as to make such an awful mistake. You're not the first to feel this way.
First, you must acknowledge and accept your mistake. Acknowledge it for what it was. You messed up. You made a mistake. Why should you dwell on the fact that you made a mistake... everyone does it. The real mistake is if you remain wherever you are and not learn from your mistake and begin to move on.
Step 2: Move Forward
Now that you have acknowledged your mistake, it's time to move on. How? Stop allowing that mistake to be thrown in your face and played like a guilt card. When you think about it, tell yourself to STOP and immediately change your thought process.
Convince yourself that there is absolutely no benefit from dwelling and reminding yourself that you messed up. Sure you can always remember the lesson you learned, but do not allow yourself to feel guilty anymore!
Step 3: Learn From It
The next step is to figure out what you need to learn from your mistake. There is a lesson to be learned in everything. Did you learn from your mistake? If not, then take a few minutes right now to stop and think about it.
Ask yourself... Why did you make the mistake? What led to it? How could it have been prevented? What can you do NOW to change what happened then?
Remember that the reason you would ask these questions to yourself is to figure out what you can learn from your mistake, and not another opportunity to beat yourself up.
Step 4: Allow Room for Future Mistakes
Let's face it, nobody's perfect. We're all human, all prone to mistakes. To think that you'll never make another mistake is unrealistic.
If you dwell on your mistakes, you allow your past to hinder you from reaching your potential in life. Instead, use your mistakes as stepping stones of learning experiences.
Life is a learning process. Grow with it.
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