Sign Up to Our Newsletter
Subscribe
Primary Menu Search
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity News
  • What’s On
  • Fashion and Beauty
    • Hair
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Weddings
  • Lifestyle
    • Love & Relationships
    • Parenting
    • Motoring
    • Food
    • Travel
      • Travel News
      • Property
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diet
    • Fitness
    • Health
  • Work & Money
    • Finance
    • Career
  • Sports
    • Soccer Mag
    • Sa Rugby Mag
    • Sa Cricket Mag
    • Compleat Golfer
    • American Sports
    • Multi Sport
  • Competitions
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals

The best ways to forgive yourself

by Staff Bona
Picture: Unsplash

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to practise self-forgiveness and you have not yet implemented this act, know that it is never too late to start.

Forgiving yourself is crucial. However, it is not an easy task to participate in.

“Everyone makes mistakes, but learning how to learn from these errors, let go, move on, and forgive yourself is important for mental health and well-being,” says Verywell Mind, a publication specialising in mental health and wellness. Calm – an information hub which prioritises the feelings of calmness in life – also adds that forgiving yourself is not about skipping over the pain but rather learning from your experiences.

Picture: Pexels

If you would like to start your positive journey of self-forgiveness, try the ways listed below.

Practice affirmations for forgiveness

To do this, you first need to know what ‘affirmations’ are. Calm explains that affirmations are positive statements that can help overcome negative thought patterns. Affirmations can also play an important role in developing a forgiving relationship with yourself.

An example of forgiveness affirmations can be, “I release my past and forgive my imperfections,” or “I choose to release guilt and embrace self-compassion.” Calm advises that you practise such affirmations in a quiet, comfortable space at the beginning and end of each day.

Understand your emotions

Verywell Mind notes that becoming aware of your experienced emotions is a crucial part of learning to forgive yourself. “Research has found that identifying and labelling your emotion can help reduce the intensity of your feelings. This can help you better regulate emotions, including those linked to feelings of guilt and shame.”

Show yourself kindness and compassion

It is important that you show remorse for your actions and approach it with self-compassion. Verywell Mind says that the key is to treat yourself with the same kindness that you would show to another person, adding, “Try to avoid being self-critical and instead be compassionate while still acknowledging that you made a mistake and want to do better.”

Picture: Unsplash

Schedule worry time

As suggested by Calm, you should try to allocate time in your day to process any worries and concerns you may have. “During this time, allow yourself to reflect on your worries without judgment,” says the information hub. “Give them the space they need to be processed and then move out of worrying time.”

Also see: 5 Ways to help your child build self-confidence in a new school

More from Lifestyle

Create a zen vibe at home with these must-have Japanese plants

Hot water bottles vs electric blankets: Which is worth it?

Where to travel if you’re into history but not museums

How to warm up your home with winter’s best colours

Primary Menu

  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity News
  • What’s On
  • Fashion and Beauty
    • Hair
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Weddings
  • Lifestyle
    • Love & Relationships
    • Parenting
    • Motoring
    • Food
    • Travel
      • Travel News
      • Property
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diet
    • Fitness
    • Health
  • Work & Money
    • Finance
    • Career
  • Sports
    • Soccer Mag
    • Sa Rugby Mag
    • Sa Cricket Mag
    • Compleat Golfer
    • American Sports
    • Multi Sport
  • Competitions
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals

  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
CAPE TOWN OFFICE: 36 Old Mill Road, Ndabeni, Maitland, 7405, Western Cape > Telephone: (021) 530 3300 > Fax: (021) 530 3333
© Copyright 2025 Bona Magazine
×

SEARCH

×