Forgiveness – It’s not just for others

It’s not only important to be able to forgive other people.  It’s important to be able to forgive yourself.  Healthy forgiveness involves accessing mistakes and releasing resentment for those mistakes.  You learn from the mistake.  Make amends when appropriate.  And work at improving future behavior.   

Forgiving yourself involves humility: the recognition that you’re human and humans make mistakes.

Shame, guilt, and regret are emotions that are meant to make us notice when something we did hurt our self or others.   Once you’ve paid attention to that message and made adjustments accordingly, it does not serve you or anyone else for you to wallow in the shame, guilt or regret.  Forgiving yourself helps you move on.   It helps you break free of burdens that can keep you stuck.

“Show me a person who’s never made a mistake, and I’ll show you the person who’s never made anything.”  – Anonymous

©Ann Silvers, MA, LMHC; www.annsilvers.com Ann@annsilvers.com 206-660-9840

Dignity in-tact

A wedding invitation I received included a request to compose and bring a haiku poem for the couple. It was a fun exercise. Here's what I came up with:

Treasure the good times
And work your way through clashes
Dignity in-tact
-Ann Silvers

The last line has a double meaning: dignity will remain intact if you use tact in your communications.
intact definition: untouched especially by anything that harms or diminishes (Merriam Webster)
tact definition: Saying your honest opinion in a respectful way. Knowing when it's appropriate to express your thoughts and feelings. (Relationship Booster card set by Silvers Publishing)

Courage quote

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues,

but the form of every virtue at the testing point." 

CS Lewis