The Power of Forgiveness, Part II: The Healing Power of Forgiving Ourselves

Beyond Your Default

Welcome to part two of our conversation about forgiveness. As we shared in our last episode, we noted a distinct and organic trend emerge through some of our previous topics.

Whether we were talking about good ego vs. bad ego, cultivating relationships in our lives, or wrestling with fear, George and I noticed some element of forgiveness was required to move through these opportunities and challenges to truly create a pathway toward living beyond your default.

⚡ Go Deeper: What It Means to Forgive Others (+ Why It Matters)

In the first part of our conversation on forgiveness, we started with the external expression of forgiveness. More specifically, we focused exclusively on what it means to forgive others. We explored what forgiving others can (and should) look like, what it doesn't look like, and what benefits we reap as a result of leaning more into a mindset that embraces forgiveness.

Of course, our ability to forgive others is only one part of the forgiveness equation. Much like other "big life concepts" such as love and happiness, our ability to express and bestow forgiveness to others begins with our ability to find forgiveness and self-compassion within.

Today, for the second part of this conversation, we are turning inward to reflect on the importance of forgiving ourselves, as well as what it looks like in practice, and how it helps us propel forward.

QUESTIONS WE EXPLORE

• When did George first realize forgiving himself was part of the package deal, so to speak, when it comes to living a life beyond your default?
• Why do so many people struggle to forgive themselves?
• What about those moments where we may feel forgiving ourselves isn't enough – we also need the ability to atone or perhaps desire the forgiveness of others?
• How does our ability to forgive ourselves correlate to our conversation regarding the language we use to talk to ourselves about ourselves? And why does recognizing this connection matter?
• What are some of the benefits we've experienced as we've learned to be more forgiving with ourselves? And what does the science say?
• How can we tell the difference between moments when forgiving ourselves is required and when it's not because we've actually done nothing wrong?
• What does forgiving ourselves look like in practice?
• What advice does George have to those who are truly struggling to find a way to forgive themselves, perhaps because they feel they are beyond redemption?