08/28/2026
So often when we hear about forgiveness, the message is about forgiving others so that you can free yourself.
But the message I received today feels different.
What if you need to forgive yourself?
Forgive yourself for the relationship that didn’t work out, even if you made mistakes along the way. Even if there are things you wish you had handled differently.
Forgive yourself for the friendships you mishandled, the times you said something you wish you could take back, the words that came out wrong, or the moments when you know you could have shown up differently.
Forgive yourself for the friend or family member you stopped talking to because you were hurt, angry, or simply too proud to make the first move.
Forgive yourself for loving someone who couldn’t love you in the way you needed—or for the ways you may not have loved them in the way they needed either.
Forgive yourself for the times you ignored your intuition, stayed too long, settled for less, or abandoned your own needs trying to keep someone else happy.
Forgive yourself for the opportunities you didn’t take, the decisions you made before you knew better, and the paths you chose that ultimately didn’t lead where you thought they would.
And maybe most importantly, forgive yourself for all the time you’ve spent punishing yourself for these things.
You were doing the best you could with the awareness, understanding, and capacity you had at the time. And sometimes, the truth is, you simply didn’t do your best. You made a bad choice. You hurt someone. You got it wrong.
That doesn't mean you have to carry it forever.
You can acknowledge it. Take responsibility. Learn from it. Make different choices moving forward.
And then… let yourself be forgiven.
Sometimes the person we’re waiting to receive forgiveness from is ourselves.