Maybe you feel guilty about something you have done in your life and you are not able to forgive yourself. Forgiveness is often defined as a deliberate decision to end feelings of anger, holding back, or frustration toward someone or something that has hurt you. You may be a generous person when it comes to forgiving other people, but you may be tougher on yourself.

We all make mistakes, but learning from them and ending the negative feelings it generates in you is important for your mental health and your overall well-being. You need to know that it is possible to forgive yourself and that it is also beneficial in all aspects of your life. You will be a better person if you begin to forgive those mistakes that you have made and that torment you so much.

Why is it hard for you to forgive yourself

If you have to be good with yourself, what is it that makes it so difficult for you sometimes to achieve it? Why are there people who keep punishing themselves and repeating themselves how badly they have done it instead of learning from it and moving forward? When mistakes are made that are not typical of the values we have, feelings of guilt or regret can appear … or what is worse, aversion to ourselves!

There are several reasons why forgiving yourself can be difficult:

    • Emotions. You may experience guilt or shame about your thoughts or feelings. Anger, envy , greed, or lust are also emotions that can lead to regret or guilt. Forgiving these emotions can be tricky because when they happen to you, you are aware of them.
  • Think too much. Some people naturally think too much and this can lead to too many negative thoughts. The forgiveness is to recognize faults and admit that changes may be due, and think this can be tricky if you are not ready to change.

Psychological well-being and forgiveness share interconnections

It is known that psychological well-being and forgiveness share interconnections. People with high levels of stress have poor mental health . People who are able to forgive have better mental health, even if they also experience stress.

Forgiveness has a number of benefits on the mind that help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental conditions. The main benefit is putting anger aside which helps reduce stress. If you are able to reduce your stress levels, you will have better health and more energy .

As if that were not enough, if you are able to forgive yourself, you will also be less likely to experience other negative physical health symptoms and you will live longer! Feelings of anger and hostility are related to having worse health.

Forgiveness towards yourself

If you are able to forgive yourself it is a positive action and it will help you restore your sense of self. But not everything is so beautiful … self-forgiveness can be harmful and inappropriate if you have problematic behaviors . For example, if you have addictions and you forgive yourself for having committed drug use, you will not have enough motivation to change.

Forgiving yourself does not mean that you ignore the problem in front of you. It’s about more than just letting go of the past and moving on … it’s about accepting what has happened, showing compassion for yourself, and changing into a better version of yourself .

Forgiving yourself is not a sign of weakness, quite the contrary! It means showing empathy and understanding when it is not easy to do so … in many cases, forgiving yourself is much more difficult than allowing yourself to wallow in anger or regret.

Remember that forgiving yourself does not mean letting yourself go. The act of forgiving yourself or others does not mean that undesirable behavior is tolerated. It means that you accept the behavior, what has happened and that you are willing to overcome it and move on with your life, allowing yourself to learn from mistakes and change for the better. 

Elle Mcdonald

I am Elle Mcdonald Specializations in Psychology . Graduated in psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2000. Diploma of Advanced Studies in the Department of Personality, Evaluation and psychological treatments with excellent results.

First Level of Master in Clinical Psychology at the Center for Behavioral Therapists (recognized with a scientific-professional nature by the College of Psychologists)

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