The Power of Self-Forgiveness: A Process to Release Shame, Guilt, and Regret

What if one of the most powerful things we can do for our healing is to stop holding ourselves hostage to the past? I have been thinking a lot about self-forgiveness lately. We can spend so much of our lives going back over what we should have done, what we wish we had said, the choices we regret, the ways we think we failed, or the times we weren't who we wanted to be. And when we keep judging ourselves for those moments, we keep ourselves connected to the pain. In this episode, I share a simple practice that has been opening something up for me: “I forgive myself for…” I sat down one morning and began writing, and what came out surprised me. I found myself forgiving the younger parts of me who thought I had to perform to be loved, forgiving myself for choices that weren't kind to myself, and offering compassion to the woman I was in moments when I simply didn't know another way. Self-forgiveness doesn't mean that we pretend something didn't happen or that we don't take responsibility for our choices. It means we stop using shame, guilt, regret, and judgment to continue hurting ourselves. We begin to understand the patterns and beliefs that shaped us, give ourselves grace, and remember that we can choose again. I also share how this practice has shown up in my marriage and in my own recovery, and why I now see self-forgiveness as such an important part of Step Five of the Recover Your Soul Process. If Recover Your Soul is about anything, I believe it is about self-love. And sometimes self-love begins with simply saying, I forgive myself. Together we can do the work that will Recover Your Soul.   💛 Send a one way text to Rev Rachel 🦋 Recover Your Soul Immersion Retreat | October 17–18 Join me for two days to go deeper into the Recover Your Soul Process. A beautiful opportunity to release what no longer serves you and reconnect with your wholeness. If your heart has been asking for deeper support, this is your invitation. The Recovery Your Soul Podcast courses and content is for educational purposes only and is not affiliated with or representative of any organization, recovery group, or religion. And reflect the personal experience and opinions of Rev Rachel Harrison and her guests. RYS claims no responsibility, any person or entity for any loss, liability, damage caused or alleged to be caused, direct or indirectly by the use application or interpretation of the information presented within.  Support the show FREE Mini Recover Your Soul 9-Step Workbook FREE Support Group on Zoom 6-7PM MT on the 1st Monday of the Month Self Study collective &  Soul Circles to walk the Recover Your Soul Steps in Community Get the Book Recover Your Soul, Rev. Rachel’s spiritual memoir   1:1 Spiritual Coaching with Rev Rachel TRYASESSION for 40% off 1st session  Follow on Social Media RYS Bonus Podcast  Patreon Member or subscribing on Apple Podcasts for corresponding episodes. Free Patreon Members get access to new episodes first few weeks. Transcripts