Sometimes it's hard to forgive past actions, but there's no better medicine for happiness than leaving the past where it belongs - in the past.
Life teaches us various lessons through which we slowly grow and move forward. Through this process we can sometimes fall and make mistakes, but the important thing is to pick ourselves up and move on.
If you are very self-critical and often analyze your mistakes, use these past experiences as motivation. Ask yourself where you want to go and don't be too critical of yourself.
Here are eight things to forgive yourself for doing in the past.
1. That you didn't know how to do it better and differently
Forgive yourself because you didn't know how to do better then, because you thought you couldn't do it and because you didn't know how to choose differently. That you chose things that weren't meant for you, and because you didn't know what you wanted - even if it hurt not only you, but also other people.
2. That you said things that were not your truth
Forgive yourself if you used words that did not come from the most honest and authentic parts of you. Words that came from the painful places of your soul. And the words that came from where you were when you were wounded.
3. That you let your bad experiences dictate your personality
Forgive yourself for behaving in silly and weird ways that don't really express who you are. Forgive yourself for allowing fear to be the driver of your journey.
4. That you have come to terms with everything
Forgive yourself for accepting things you didn't deserve when you thought you did. Forgive yourself for thinking that others are more important than you, your opinion and existence. Forgive yourself for not asking to be respected.
5. Forgive yourself for not having set boundaries
Forgive yourself for all the times you didn't say no, for all the times you did something you didn't really want to do, and for allowing people to take advantage of you in ways you now know were wrong . Your boundaries evolve throughout life, as do you.
6. Forgive yourself for not doing more
Forgive yourself for not doing more and start celebrating what you did. You deserve to forgive yourself so you can move forward, grow and become the person you really want to be. You have already done a lot and you will do a lot more, but you have always done what you knew and were able to do at a given moment. You've done enough, don't forget that.
7. Forgive yourself for ignoring your inner voice.
Forgive yourself for all the times you didn't listen to the still small voice within and allowed things that you somehow knew deep down were wrong. Forgive yourself for not knowing that you can be your own worst enemy as well as your best friend.
8. Forgive yourself for not allowing yourself to be happy
Forgive yourself for all the moments that went by without feeling them fully because fear and anxiety got in the way. The times you didn't give yourself permission to feel happy and all the times you thought you didn't deserve it. Forgive yourself for thinking too much, asking too much, and for all the times you forgot about yourself.
Forgive yourself for not allowing yourself to be happy!
