Best Habits For Mental Health

Practice Self-Forgiveness

'We are our own worst critics' is a feeling most individuals can relate to, especially during times of anxiety, depression, and stress. While everyone makes mistakes, for many, it can be difficult to forgive ourselves for those mistakes and move forward. We might feel guilty for missing our child’s important school or sports event due to a work commitment, or we might remember our role in a fight with a friend or family member. Some individuals might even have guilt related to their jobs, such as a doctor who was not able to save a patient or a veteran involved in combat. Whatever the reason for our self-criticism and guilt, holding onto those feelings can send us into a downward spiral that is difficult to overcome.

Choosing to practice self-forgiveness is an important step in healing and working towards a healthy mental state. While forgiveness doesn’t stop the pain or the consequences of what happened, it can help lead to a sense of peace and the mending of relationships. When practicing self-forgiveness, it’s important to first examine one’s role in the transgression and acknowledge it. Then, through developing empathy for ourselves, we can begin to look at how we can make things right, such as trying to undo harm, choosing to do kind and generous acts, and practicing self-care. It is important to move beyond ruminating over words said or actions committed and acknowledging to ourselves that it’s ok to make mistakes. While it sounds cliché, the most important part is finding opportunities to learn and grow, even through mistakes.

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