Self Awareness

Understanding who we are and why we have done something is imperative as a starting point. Without full comprehension of the event and our place in it, we can never come to terms with the past. By recognizing the feelings we have attached to the situation, and understanding why we did what we did, we can begin to move forward.

Forgiveness Vs. Self-Forgiveness
Another important factor is being aware of our interpretation of the term "forgiveness." Many of us lump together "forgiveness," something we seem to have to ask for, something to be earned and received by someone outside of ourselves, with "self-forgiveness." They are most certainly two different concepts, which should be kept in their proper prospective. It can be most gratifying when others grant us forgiveness, even more so if they are the wronged parties in the incident we regret and for which we seek inner peace. Unfortunately, we may never receive the pardon of forgiveness from another individual, no matter how important their place, or their opinions, may be in our lives. This is why we must achieve self- forgiveness; our strength and self-acceptance must come from within. We will never be able to forgive ourselves if we rely on outside forces to pardon us, as those forces are outside our control.

Letting Go
As we have become self-aware and re-identified with our positive relationship with ourselves, this last step releases us from the past. It is simply making an agreement with ourselves to let go of the past and embrace the present. It is choosing to become the person we want to be, using the knowledge of our past choices to propel us positively forward into our new experiences. When we are mired in the mistakes of our past, we are not fully living, missing out on the remarkable opportunity to improve ourselves and to create a world of our choosing.