Everyone experiences the pain of being mistreated or wronged by others throughout life. Perhaps more excruciating is being the one to inflict emotional harm and the lasting guilt that tags along.

Whether or not it is intentional, the immense remorse that is felt from a poor decision that hurt someone can be held within us long after it has passed. The fact that we cannot undo our mistakes can put self-forgiveness at an unreachable place. Many times we tend to prolong our suffering by replaying our missteps on a loop in our minds; but what purpose does that serve?

The downfalls in life can be one of our greatest teachers if we choose to recognize them. Repeatedly berating ourselves keeps us stagnant and hinders the healing process. In turn, we miss out on profound self-growth which can extend outside ourselves to forgive others in our lives as well.

Remember, forgiving is not forgetting; however it is about letting go. Letting go allows you to move forward and show others and most importantly, yourself, that you live your life with good intentions and that you are better than any mistake you've ever made.