The Path To Forgiveness

Everyone struggles with the issue of forgiveness.

But while it’s difficult to show clemency towards those who have wronged us, the greater battle is the one we fight forgiving ourselves.

Excusing the failings of others is something that can be done and dismissed. Their wrong-doing is their responsibility…our reaction to that wrong-doing is as far as our own obligation extends.

We are, however, our own worst critics…at times, our own worst enemies.

Self-forgiveness is inescapably personal. We are faced with the prospect of convincing ourselves of our own self-worth. That involves total acceptance of and responsibility for the thoughts or actions that have brought us the burden of guilt.

While it’s possible to forgive and even forget the transgressions of others it’s another matter entirely when the process is self-contained. Self justification is more than a little difficult. It can be a debilitating process robbing us of reason and common sense.

The catch is that it’s essential.

Psychological survival depends as much on our ability to recognise our failings as it does on our resolve to change.

It’s essential that we work on being at peace with ourselves. If we are the root cause of that which is troubling ourselves…if we are unable to come to terms with ourselves, our past and our present, then the transition to the future becomes more than problematic.

To fully understand the concept of forgiveness we must first have a clear understanding of who we are, what we think and why we think it. And we need to use that understanding and those thought processes to forgive ourselves.

We all make mistakes. We all have secrets. We are all as complex as we are complicated.

But if refuse to get to know the person we are then our learning and emotional growth is stunted and we’ll never be able to find the path to forgiveness.