Self Forgiveness Definition

When we think of the idea of forgiveness, we usually think about forgiving others; not ourselves. When the world in as interconnected as it is, forgetting about ourselves is often easy. Sometimes we are so focused on a goal or another person that we do not realize that we have to take care of our own physical and emotional states. Whether it is our careers, family, or the affairs of the country, we must think of what is essential to live meaningful lives. While the path to discovering one’s purpose and life’s meaning is unique, there is one particular barricade that can affect us all; the failure of self-forgiveness. Man’s Search For Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl, The Painted Veil, by W Somerset Maugham, and The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee …show more content…
It is also necessary to find out what the consequences could be due to a lack of forgiveness for oneself. Therapeutic Stages Of Forgiveness And Self-Forgiveness, by George A. Jacinto and Beverly L. Edwards examines how therapists use this idea of self-forgiveness to help their clients. George and Beverly work for the Department of Social Work at Arkansas State University. They decided to create a journal containing crucial information about forgiveness throughout history in the fields of religion, psychology, and everyday life. Through their research, they came up with a broad but accurate definition for self-forgiveness: “Self-forgiveness is the result of individuals taking responsibility for their part in a situation that resulted in hurt feelings, physical harm to other people, harboring negative feelings about another, and self-blame”(Jacinto and Edwards 6). Now that the definition of self-forgiveness is known, the ramifications of failing to do this must be stated. People can generally agree that for any relationship, communication is necessary for it to be successful. This communication can be between co-workers, friends, and family. Eventually arguments and mistakes will happen. This happens to everyone and it is a part of life. What is important is that lessons are learned from these …show more content…
In order to help and have relationships with other people like friends and family, one must know themselves first. This means that a person is self-aware of their own emotions, actions, and possible impact. A person knows that their decisions affect them and the people around them. If a person does not understand how to take care and forgive themselves, they cannot do the same for others. In Man’s Search For Meaning, Viktor Frankl spent years of his life in Nazi death camps and managed to “survive” the ordeal. While he physically survived he was emotionally scarred for the rest of his life. He lost his family including his parents and wife. In his studies of Logotherapy, Frankl stated that how people reacted to suffering was the most important choice they could make in the ordeal: “But in that moment I did succeed in changing his attitude toward his unalterable fate inasmuch as from that time on he could at least see a meaning in his suffering”(Frankl 113). To find purpose in suffering goes along with being able to forgive oneself and others. A person will endure suffering if they fail to forgive themselves. Without self-forgiveness, the suffering will be too great to be able to forgive others. People must work on themselves first before they can wish to properly express their emotions and actions to other people. To completely understand an idea means that it cannot