Imagine the past version of you as a separate individual. Will you treat them the same way you’re treating yourself right now? Think about it. Take a long breath and let this sink in:
They did the best they could with what they had.
The past version of you may have made choices that have had negative consequences in your life. Forgiving them may mean forgiving yourself for these choices, which is difficult.
It’s worth remembering that everyone makes mistakes.
That’s what makes us human. At the same time, we are capable of change and growth. It’s okay to be angry at the past version of yourself, but try to see them as a friend who made some mistakes. Try to forgive them, and learn from their mistakes so you don’t make the same ones in future.
It’s a sign of hope for the future.
Forgiving yourself shows that you believe in your own ability to change and grow. It’s likely that that the person you were in the past is not the one you are now. We’ve come far, innit?