Living: the ultimate team sport

Compassion and Forgiveness

Posted on March 20, 2023 Updated on March 16, 2023

I learned something very important the other day. 

I’ve read lots of articles and listened to numerous podcasts the past few years wherein self-forgiveness and self-compassion are talked about at length. Intellectually, I understood the concept but my heart didn’t catch up until a few days ago so that the IMPORTANT understanding could settle in.

Self-forgiveness is not dependent on rectifying a past action or mistake.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “Well, duh – you can’t change the past” but believe me, my previous inability to forgive myself was based on wishing I could change the past and because I could not, forgiveness was not possible. Had a friend experienced a similar faux pas as me, would I castigate her? Would I shame her? No, I would not, so why be a jerk to myself?

Indeed.

I have finally forgiven myself for previously unforgivable mistakes – the ones that still pricked my conscience – and I have become a free woman where those matters are concerned.

My shoulders and my heart have been relieved of a VERY heavy burden.