Guest Post: 5 Keys to Self-Forgiveness!

By Rohan @rohanforsale

Hey guys! Just got done doing 3 big shows in a row. I tell you, spending so much time studying and practicing so many good habits regarding relaxation, abundance, patience and perseverance has made this possible. I would have burned out long ago gigging, recording, editing, teaching and promoting as much as I am without all that. I have this blog to thank, and everyone who’s made it what it is today :) Speaking of which Rohan’s 7 Things just blasted past 200,000 views! And the crazy thing is it took almost a year to reach 100,000 and now it’s more than doubled that in just a few months!

So again, a big thanks to the readers of this blog, and as well to the community of guest posters. One of which I’d like to pass you over to now. I think we can all do with a good dose of self forgivness, and so here are a few tips on how to do it courtesy of the Zion Recovery Centre. Enjoy :)

5 Keys to Self-Forgiveness

For better or worse, the hardest person to forgive is yourself. Self-forgiveness is a journey, not a destination. It’s an ongoing process that cannot be forced or hurried. You must take your time in this journey as it is an important gift that you give yourself in moving on. You will have good days and bad days in life. The bad sometimes making you feel as though you’ve past the point of self-forgiveness. Even if you’re knocked back to square one, giving up on yourself is not an option. No matter how angry or frustrated you are with yourself, understand that self-forgiveness is a gradual process that’s worth the wait. So without further ado, here are the 5 keys to self-forgiveness from our experts at Zion Recovery Center:

  1. Value Yourself as a Human Being:

You have to make a resolution to stop letting the past torture the person you are today. Take what you have done in the past, learn from it, and do your best to move on. You can learn from your past mistakes while gaining a new appreciation for the person you have become. Accepting your past behavior doesn’t mean you approve of it. It simply means that you acknowledge the mistakes in your past as well as the progress you’ve made in becoming a different person. Start by accepting yourself in the present moment, just as you are. Reflect on your past from a neutral perspective once or twice, then let them go and try to focus on the stronger person you’ve become because of them.

  1. Acknowledge Loss and Accept consequences:

You need to look at the consequences that followed an event in order to fully forgive yourself. Reflecting on not only the emotional pain, but the financial loss, damage to relationships, or any other harm caused. When you are forgiving yourself, it is important to look at all the losses, otherwise you will be revisiting the subject of the seemingly irreparable damage to your feeling of self-worth. It is also important to take accountability for your actions and behaviors that led you to where you are now. Take responsibility for what is yours, but acknowledge the circumstances that were out of your control. You should not take responsibility for the mistakes and wrongs of others, but understand everyone’s role.

  1. Accept your feelings for What they are:

Allowing yourself to experience and feel each emotion can be a major hurtle in forgiving yourself. Instead of trying to push emotions like fear, anger and sadness away, realize that they are a necessary component in your journey. Be honest with yourself and acknowledge your feelings. Start a journal to release the thoughts and feelings you’ve kept bottled up.

  1. Be Willing to Forgive Others

Practice makes perfect, right? If you practice forgiving other people, forgiving yourself becomes much easier. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to restore broken relationships, however, even the simple act of forgiving others in your mind will help you accept your own mistakes. Accept that we are all human and consequently, we all have faults. Because no one is perfect, we all make mistakes that deserve forgiveness on some level.

  1. Allow Truth from Yourself and Others

Sometimes we need a good friend or mentor to remind us that we are worthy of forgiveness. Reach out to trusted family and/or friends to talk about what you’re feeling. You’ll probably realize that you’re being much harder on yourself than those who you’ve affected with your past actions. This is also a great way to work through your thoughts, allowing you to feel the emotions associated with them before they’re released.

Guest post by: Zion Recovery Center

About Zion Recovery Center:

Zion Recovery Center is a Utah addiction center, dedicated to conquering drug and alcohol addiction. Our unique program combines evidence-based treatment methods with the healing power of basic gospel principles and exciting outdoor activities to free our clients from addiction.