Why Forgiving Yourself And Others Might Be the Hardest And Best Thing You’ll Ever Do

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Forgiveness isn't always easy whether it's letting go of someone else's wrongs or forgiving ourselves for our mistakes. Holding onto grudges or guilt keeps us connected to the person who hurt us, or even to our own past actions. But the good news is, there are practical ways to work through forgiveness. It might take some time, but learning to forgive both others and ourselves can help us move forward.

Instead of letting the past control us, we can break free and make space for peace and healing. Let's find out how we can forgive others and ourselves.

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Ways To Forgive Others

1) Think of forgiving someone as a gift you're giving to yourself. It's not about them; it's about freeing yourself from the weight of holding onto hurt.

2) Acknowledge the hurt, anger, or grief tied to how you were hurt. It's the same approach. Recognize what's weighing you down before you can let it go.

3) Understand that when you forgive, you're letting go of the past and freeing yourself. Release the hold that the hurt has on you.

4) Make peace with the past and keep going. It's all about not letting it stop you from moving ahead.

5) Forgiveness is tough, but holding onto grudges hurts even more. That anger or hurt within keeps you stuck, while letting go, though difficult, opens the door to healing and peace.

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What Prevents You From Forgiving Others

Forgiving others can be tough when we're holding onto certain attitudes. For example, sometimes we get caught up in thinking we're better than the person who hurt us, telling ourselves, "I would never do something so awful." Then there's the trap of staying in the victim mindset, letting the hurt define us and constantly reminding ourselves of what was done.

And, let's be honest, there's also that desire for revenge. We might feel justified in wanting payback, but in reality, it only keeps us tethered to the person who wronged us. Holding onto these feelings doesn't help us heal-it just keeps us stuck.

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Ways To Forgive Yourselves

1) Make self-forgiveness a regular habit, like a spiritual practice. The more you practise it, the easier it becomes to release guilt and move forward with peace.

2) Tackle any guilt by figuring out what's needed to release it. You might need to apologise or make things right with the person you've hurt to truly move past it.

3) Quit being hard on yourself and reconnect with the goodness at your core. Remember, you're worthy of love and kindness, especially from yourself.

4) Focus on the barrier that's stopping you from forgiving yourself. Understand what's in the way, and take steps to move past it.

5) Be ready to take responsibility for forgiving yourself. It's about owning your healing and making the choice to move forward with grace.

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What Prevents You From Forgiving Yourself

One common reason we struggle to forgive ourselves is the idea of being truly accountable, yet feeling guilty doesn't necessarily mean we're taking responsibility. In fact, holding onto guilt can stop us from making real amends or offering restitution, which are the true ways to show accountability.

Another obstacle is the belief that not forgiving ourselves will teach us a lesson. The only lesson it teaches, however, is that we don't deserve forgiveness, and there's no real growth in self-punishment.

Shame also plays a big role in keeping us from forgiving ourselves, making us feel undeserving of it. In other cases, many of us were raised to think that forgiveness has to come from someone else first, often a religious figure which makes it hard to realise that we can forgive ourselves without waiting for others.

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To wrap it up, forgiving yourself and others isn't just an act of kindness, it's a powerful step towards healing and freedom. It's tough, but it's the best gift you can give yourself. Releasing grudges from your mind and accepting your own imperfections opens the door to moving forward, living fully, and finding peace. So, take that first step because you deserve it.