| If you are on a path of purposeful personal | | | | new skill that we're not going to get it right the |
| growth, you will have to learn how to forgive | | | | first time. We know we will make mistakes. So, |
| yourself to see progress. | | | | why are we so much more willing to forgive our |
| Now, before you start balking at the idea, let me | | | | mistakes in learning new skills like bike riding, than |
| give you an example. | | | | in learning a new skill in creating and living a happy |
| Remember when you learned to ride a bicycle? | | | | life? |
| I'm pretty sure you didn't just hop on and ride | | | | Most of us are much harder on ourselves than |
| away into the sunset. Instead, you fell off, | | | | we are on others, and we tend to hold grudges |
| probably several times until you learned how to | | | | with ourselves for much longer, as well. But how |
| balance and push the pedals at the same time. | | | | are you supposed to learn if you don't allow |
| Once you mastered balance, you may have had | | | | yourself the room to make mistakes along the |
| to perfect your steering so you could turn | | | | way? If you forgive yourself for not being |
| corners or turn around without crashing. | | | | perfect from the start, for not getting it right the |
| Granted, most people would not consider | | | | first time, you allow yourself to try again and |
| forgiveness a requirement for learning how to ride | | | | make progress. If you don't forgive yourself the |
| a bicycle, but it is there, nonetheless. What would | | | | mistakes you make along the way, you stunt |
| have happened if the first time you fell of the | | | | your growth and remain stuck where you are. |
| bicycle, you labeled yourself "an uncoordinated | | | | Everyone makes mistakes. We're human. It |
| loser" and never tried again? Ridiculous, I know. | | | | happens. Holding yourself and your growth |
| But, you didn't do that, and the reason is you | | | | hostage by not forgiving yourself your mistakes |
| forgave yourself the mistake and got back up | | | | serves no useful purpose. You certainly don't |
| and tried again. | | | | benefit, and neither does anyone else. So if you |
| It seems to be more of a given when learning a | | | | want growth, learn to forgive yourself. |