✨ How would it feel to let go of the pain of the past and forgive yourself? ✨

“Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil; with them forgive yourself.”
- William Shakespeare

✨ WELCOME TO SELF-FORGIVENESS MADE SIMPLE ✨

✨ It’s time to set yourself free.  ✨

Discover how letting go of the false belief that anything outside of your intrinsic value has the authority to determine your worthiness and lovability through the transformative power of self-forgiveness.

✨ A more fulfilled life is waiting for you.  ✨

One of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of our healing journey is cultivating a daily practice of self-forgiveness. 

We often are so focused on learning how to forgive others for what they have done to us or asking for forgiveness from those that we have wronged, that we skip the most important aspect of forgiveness, which is showing ourselves self-compassion for being human. 

This is because self-forgiveness sets you free from the false belief that anything you have done - or that has been done to you - has the power to make you unworthy of love. It is the false belief that you are broken, damaged, or undeserving of a fulfilled life. 

So if you have ever felt that way, then this self-forgiveness masterclass will help you reclaim your power and set yourself free. 

Insight #1: Defining Self-Forgiveness.

Let’s first get clear on what self-forgiveness is and what it isn’t.

Self-forgiveness is grounded in two things: acceptance and compassion.

It is accepting what has happened and showing yourself compassion through the deliberate decision to release resentment, hatred, and self-identification that you feel toward yourself for your own actions, as well as the actions that have been done toward you by others.

Self-forgiveness also allows for trust in the divine. It says that there’s something greater than this mistake, experience, or person that has the power to define your worthiness and lovability.

And the best part is this divine power lives within you, so you have the power to forgive yourself without needing the permission or approval of anyone else outside of yourself.

This means that whatever you have done, or whatever has been done to you, doesn’t have the power to take away your intrinsic value because it is divinely given. Therefore, nothing and no one can give it, and more importantly, nothing and no one can take it away.

In its essence, self-forgiveness is lovingly embracing your own humanity through self-compassion, letting go, and embracing the grace that is rooted in your divine intrinsic value.

Now, let’s get clear on what self-forgiveness isn’t.

It’s not absolving yourself or others of accountability and responsibility for what has or has not happened. Rather, it’s the healing power to know that you are still worthy, lovable, and deserving in spite of it happening.

Insight #2: The Foundation to Self-Forgiveness | Understanding Guilt vs. Shame.

Unlocking the healing power of self-forgiveness is rooted in knowing the difference between guilt and shame. Once you have a command of how they differ, then you can intentionally use both concepts to heal, grow, and forgive. 

First, let’s understand the role that guilt plays in your mental well-being. Guilt is a healthy emotional response to doing something that isn’t in alignment with your higher self, set of values, or belief system. This is why you feel guilty when you do something that you perceive as being “wrong.” 

It’s a powerful way to keep yourself accountable when trying to lead a life of integrity, which is when your actions and words reflect your values and beliefs. 

In essence, guilt says, “What I did was wrong or what happened to me was wrong.”

Conversely, shame is the toxic or unhealthy emotional response to doing something that you perceive to be “wrong” or when someone has done something “wrong” to you.

This is because shame says, “Because I made this mistake or because someone has done this thing to me, I am now wrong, broken, or damaged.”

What is so harmful about shame is that it infuses your identity or sense of self with the perceived mistake or wrongdoing. It makes who you are wrong, rather than the event, decision, experience, or the other person being wrong. 

Therefore, when used in a healthy way, guilt can inform us that our actions or behaviors conflict with our values and beliefs, and from there, we can make better choices that are in alignment with our higher self. It can be our moral compass and inner guidance system.

Through self-forgiveness, which is lovingly letting go of self-resentment and self-hatred due to things that you have done or for things that have been done to you, you can also release toxic shame which fuses the wrongness of the mistake or the experience with who you identify as being as a person, i.e. “I am wrong. I am a mistake. I am broken. I am unworthy. I am unlovable., etc.”

Self-forgiveness sets you free because it dissects the action being wrong from you being wrong. It creates a healthy space between what you did and who you are. 

Insight #3: Self-Forgiveness in Action.

If you’ve felt as though a mistake, yours or someone else’s, has negatively influenced how you defined yourself as a human being, then enjoy a few practical ways to cultivate self-forgiveness and a compassionate relationship with yourself. 

Acknowledge Your Feelings:
Use the following journal prompts to acknowledge your feelings and expand your self-awareness:

• “If I’m being honest with myself, I believe that I don’t deserve to be forgiven for {insert something that you have done or that was done to you but you blame yourself for happening…”

• “I’m holding onto the belief that I don’t deserve forgiveness because…”

• “I believe that because __________ happened, I am no longer worthy of ….” 

• “If I allowed myself to receive my own forgiveness, this would happen…” 

• “I’m open to forgive myself, even if it means giving up the belief that…”

Apologize to Yourself:
Now that you have more self-awareness and are acknowledging your feelings, let's start the healing process by writing a letter to yourself. 

Start the letter by giving yourself permission to let go. Then, give yourself permission to know that you are safe without the false armor of shame and self-hatred. It’s safe to drop the anger.

Next, let your consciousness flow based on the journal prompt, “It is safe to forgive myself and I choose to forgive myself for…” 

Lastly, release. You can rip up the letter or burn it. Just do something that symbolizes the releasing and letting go of what you have been holding onto that has been sabotaging your self-worth and freedom. 

Express Appreciation:
Another powerful journaling practice is acknowledging what the experience of making this perceived mistake taught you. 

Feel free to use the journal prompts below: 

• “Based upon this experience, I’m so happy and grateful that I learned this about myself…”

• “Based upon this experience, I’m so happy and grateful that the lesson or piece of wisdom that I can now use to live a more empowered life is…. 

• “Based upon this experience, I’m so happy and grateful that I learned this about life…”

Practice Self-Compassion:
Creating self-awareness around needing to forgive yourself and acknowledging your feelings can be an emotionally draining process, so be sure to have a self-care plan in place. 

In your journal, write down 10 ways that you can self-soothe yourself during this process. 

Some ideas are soaking in an Epsom salt bath after a tough day of releasing, asking a friend to coffee to talk through some emotions that came up for you, creating healthy boundaries with yourself and others so as not to repeat the same mistakes, lighting scented candles and playing relaxing music while you journal, etc. 

Cultivate A Daily Self-Forgiveness Practice:
When you start your day, repeat the following affirmation, feel free to make it your own.

“Today, I am going to gently forgive myself for all things at all times. I am a human being and I’m allowed to make mistakes. Being perfect is not my burden to bear.”

When you end your day, repeat the following affirmation, feel free to make it your own.

“Today, I did the best I could, and that is enough. I let go and release any thoughts or feelings of not being good enough or that I could have done anything differently. I forgive myself and I am free to enjoy my life.” 

More Self-Care Resources

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My courses are based on my own personal experiences, insights, and additional research. It should supplement your self-care journey and not be a substitute for a relationship with a licensed mental health professional.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

By purchasing a course, you understand that all sales are final since this is a digital product. You are responsible for the total purchase amount including all payments as there are no refunds. Please email assistant@candywashington.com with all questions or if you need help.