Forgiving Yourself Is Important

Self-Forgiveness is Healthy and Beneficial

We know that forgiveness is hard. 

Even harder for many people, is forgiving themselves for their actions, inaction, words, or thoughts. 

Interestingly, over 65% of the respondents in the Project You Global Survey on Forgiveness admitted that they have difficulties in forgiving themselves sometimes. In addition, another 14% responded that they "often" have difficulties in forgiving themselves. 

Only one in five respondents (21%) to our survey, who came from 18 different nationalities spread across the globe, said they have no difficulties in forgiving themselves. 

It seems that self-forgiveness is not a very common practice. 

The path to self-forgiveness is not often an easy one. In fact, even for those who are good at consistently forgiving others, forgiving one's self is often a more difficult task. 

In order to forgive ourselves, we have to be honest with ourselves and admit our mistakes and wrong actions. Plus, we have to take personal ownership for the wrongdoing. Trying to place blame elsewhere, or making excuses for our behavior, are not congruent with the self-forgiving process. 

On the other hand, not forgiving one's self and learning the lessons from one's misdeeds means to be shackled to the past and unable to move forward. It also extracts serious costs on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. As Publilus Syrus wrote over two thousand years ago, "How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself." 

Personal Year of Forgiveness Starts With You

Regular readers of the Project You Life blog will know that we are encouraging everyone to make 2017 a Personal Year of Forgiveness. 

And one of the best places to start this personal program is with one's self. 

Through self-awareness and self-understanding, along with copious amounts of reflection and commitment, everyone can learn to forgive themselves and move beyond their past deeds and actions.

We have created a six-step process for forgiving yourself, which you will find in our latest book Project You: Forgiveness Words of Wisdom. The book launches tomorrow (January 18th) on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. 

The ideas, techniques, and quotes in Project You: Forgiveness Words of Wisdom will assist you on your own journey to inner peace through forgiveness and to your own ability to Live A Determined Life. 

Forgive yourself. Let go of the past. Move on.

May this become your personal forgiveness mantra for 2917 and beyond.