It can be so easy to be hard on ourselves — to focus on our perceived flaws and shortcomings. But mistakes are a natural part of the human experience.
When we use forgiveness to move past those mistakes responsibly, we can start to encourage ourselves, cherish our achievements, and let go of that relentless pursuit of perfection.
And when we take the time to acknowledge the younger version of ourselves — the one who faced all of life’s pressures head-on — that can have a truly profound impact.
In my Wednesday Meditation and Talk from April 24, I talked about Forgiving Yourself, and Encouraging Yourself.
Some key points that I covered are:
- Cultivating a spacious, accepting presence allows you to simply be, without judgment or striving, which is what we meditated on.
- You can learn how to recognize and cherish the victories in your life, no matter their size.
- Forgiving ourselves can liberate us from the shackles of past mistakes, while still taking responsibility and striving for repair.
- The importance of nurturing your spirit with kindness and understanding through every stage of life.
- Insights into the Zen and Chan perspectives on finding peace in the present moment.
- Tips on combining open awareness and concentration practices to foster an open heart and alleviate negative emotions.
I hope you find it helpful. You are welcome to join my free Wednesday Meditations – which are open to everyone!
