Set Yourself Free

(light clicking) (soft chiming music) Headspace Studio. Hi everyone, it's Rosie. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Tuesday. So yesterday I talked about the actual process of forgiving someone else, and today we are venturing further into the world of forgiveness this time with ourselves, and how forgiving ourselves can create an environment for growth and healing. For example, have you ever been in a situation where you've made a mistake that felt so massive, so overpowering that it haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? That was me a while back. In my case, I made a judgment call investing in a program that guaranteed it would grow my small yoga and meditation business by tenfold. But after pouring most of our capital into it, it failed miserably. It resulted in me having to let go of my entire team which was devastating, especially because I had heard about this bogus program from a trusted friend. After the incident, I was consumed by the waters of regret. How could I make such a bad call? During this challenging period, I found solace and guidance in a few key practices that helped me navigate the turbulent waters of guilt and remorse. The first practice was self-compassion. I realized that berating myself endlessly and holding onto self-blame only perpetuated the cycle of negativity. I had to consciously choose to extend kindness and understanding to myself, just as I would to a dear friend or a loved one facing a similar situation. I reminded myself that I deserved forgiveness and that growth and transformation would come from even the darkest moments. Next, I took responsibility for my actions. I acknowledged my role in the decision that had led to this awful and unfortunate outcome. Accepting responsibility, especially when I told my team, allowed me to release the burden of denial and face the reality of the situation head on, and fortunately, they were really understanding about the whole thing. Lastly, I committed to learning from my mistake. I recognized that setbacks and failures are often great teachers in disguise. I reached out to mentors, friends and colleagues whom I trusted and respected. Their perspectives, advice and support provided me with the strength and encouragement to keep moving forward. Let's be honest, it's hard to forgive ourselves. It's because we don't want to repeat the same mistakes. And if we already have feelings of unworthiness, they just get magnified with each mistake, but it's not productive to feel unworthy. We have to move forward. Like everything else, this process is a journey. So in addition to the things that helped me during this time, the following are a few tips to get you to self-forgiveness. Number one, recognize your humanity. We all make mistakes, and it's okay. Embrace your human imperfections and let them guide your growth. Sometimes when I make a mistake, I take a beat and remind myself I'm human, and I'm not designed for perfection. I'm designed for authenticity....