Thanksgiving Is The Perfect Time For Forgiveness – Self Forgiveness

by Staff Writer

Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful. It’s a time to remember why family is so important.

But it’s also a time for forgiveness. Forgiving others so relationships can be repaired. Because who wants Thanksgiving dinner to be awkward, right?

But also a time to forgive yourself.

Sometimes forgiving one’s self is harder than forgiving others. But you can’t really forgive others if you haven’t forgiven yourself for whatever it is you’ve done or think you done.

Three Reasons To Forgive Yourself

Holding on to anger and self-judgement isn’t healthy. When you forgive yourself, you increase your well-being and reduce the amount of anger retained in your body. Science has proven that accumulated anger retained in the body over long periods of time can manifest itself as physical symptoms

You have a better chance of improving relationships when you are emotionally in a better place.

When you understand the benefits of forgiveness, you’re more likely to share this information with others and help them find forgiveness as well.

Seven Ways To Forgive Yourself

Take time to understand what you’re feeling and why. Journaling, therapy, talking to a trusted friend can help.
Once you understand what and why you’re feeling. Accepting responsibility for what happened, and your part in the situation is an important step in forgiving yourself.
Treat yourself with kindness and compassion. Look at yourself the same way you’d look at a child or beloved pet if you find it hard to treat yourself in this way.
Sincerely express remorse for your mistakes to those involved. If you can apologize to the parties involved, write a heartfelt letter expressing your remorse and then burn it or throw it away. Don’t forget to apologize to yourself.
Make amends if you can.
Look for ways to learn from the experience. Write down lessons learned. How will you change your actions and behavior going forward?
Focus on making better choices in the future.

Writing As Therapy

Incorporate these seven steps into a Forgiveness Journal by writing down what happened. Describe how you feel. Verbalize your understanding of what you’ve done, then accept responsibility on paper. There is therapeutic value in writing. You may find that emotions are released as you write.

Tears may come as you write. That’s okay.

Write your remorse. Put your apology on the paper.

Then write down the lessons you’ve learned. What won’t you ever do again? How will you be different?

Lastly, write down your plans for a better tomorrow.

This Thanksgiving and beyond, as you spend time with family and friends, righting wrongs and repairing relationships, forgiving others… Don’t forget to forgive yourself.