I recently came across a Facebook post on self-forgiveness and it piqued my curiosity. I stopped scrolling and starting reading. From a young age I was taught about the need to forgive others and now with three children of my own, carry on that tradition. Forgiving oneself on the other hand was not something I had thought much about. Maybe you’re wondering what this has to do with money but bear with me as it has a lot to do with it.
When we don’t forgive ourselves and hold on to the guilt, we are not able to move forward and be the best version of ourselves. Our thoughts are consumed with worry and fear. It’s hard to set new goals and reach them when we are beating ourselves up over past events gone wrong. Think about your money and budget. Have you ever overspent on a shopping trip? How about extra charges on your credit card while on vacation? Then come home and worry about how you are ever going to pay it off. While trying to escape these feelings, you continue to spend making it worse. This is self-sabotage and it never helps.
Simple techniques can help us learn to forgive ourselves. First, accept that the past is the past and stop dwelling there. Acknowledge it, realize you can’t make any changes and decide to forgive yourself. It’s also important to learn from our mistakes so we don’t repeat them. Writing about your experience and what you learned from it can be powerful in transforming the behavior.
In the end, we must take care of ourselves as we would a loved one. Extending forgiveness to ourselves creates a positive outlook and helps us make better decisions. Building a strong financial future needs desire, determination and discipline to reach your goals.
Information in this material is for general information only and not intended as investment, tax or legal advice. Please consult the appropriate professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation prior to making any financial decision.
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