1 . Self-forgiveness has been defined as the process by which you become aware of any damage you’ve caused, seek to repair it, and eliminate or reduce your feelings of self-condemnation and guilt.

Forgiving yourself entails experiencing feelings of self-condemnation.     1     However, you must be careful not to confuse self-forgiveness with self-indulgence, self-deception, and narcissism. Forgiving yourself, on the other hand, means reestablishing your self-concept, rejoining your recognized path, and amending your mistakes.

Self-forgiveness involves changing the way you think about your past mistakes. It’s of vital importance to stop interpreting them as sources of shame and regret.     2     In reality, relating in a healthier way with your past is essential to recognize and value your changes and to help your personal growth.

    3     In order to forgive yourself, you must, first of all, recognize your mistakes in the situation that’s causing you to feel guilty. From there, you can clearly express your will to repair the damage and to empathize with those who’ve been affected by your actions.

The ability to forgive yourself also implies your firm belief that change is possible.     4     As a matter of fact, it simply means you’re aware of it. In addition, you’re aware of the importance of identifying what you can change in yourself to avoid repeating the same mistake in the future.

Finally, the last dimension of self-forgiveness is the awareness that you’re only human, hence, not perfect. Consequently, you’re capable of failing at any point in your life. Recognizing yourself as part of humanity can also help you to be more compassionate towards others.     5