As your fave elder millennial and internet bestie, I wanted to talk about a philosophy that has truly improved my life – and that’s the act of forgiving yourself every night before bed.

Let’s be real – we all make mistakes. Whether it’s a small blunder at work or a major misstep in a relationship, we all slip up from time to time.

It would almost be criminal if you didn’t make a mistake.

Mistakes remind us we are human, afterall. And they’re a great tool for measuring our progress.

But I get it, because when we mess up, it’s easy to beat ourselves up and replay the mistake over and over in our heads. But here’s the thing – holding onto that (or any) guilt and shame does us no good.

Here are three reasons why you need to forgive yourself the way you forgive others:

1. It helps you let go of mistakes from the day. When you take a moment to acknowledge where you went wrong and forgive yourself for it, you’re able to release the guilt that’s been weighing on your shoulders.
2. It promotes self-compassion. When we forgive ourselves, we’re showing ourselves the same kindness and empathy we would show a friend or loved one. We’re acknowledging that we’re human and imperfect, just like everyone else. This promotes a positive self-image and helps us grow.
3. It sets the tone for a more restful sleep. When we go to bed feeling stressed, guilty, or ashamed, it can be hard to fully relax and drift off into a peaceful sleep – and babe, sleep health matters!

Your challenge for the week ahead

I challenge you to try forgiving yourself every night before bed, taking a moment to reflect and let go of any guilt.

Your windshield is bigger than your rearview because it matters where you’re going – not where you’ve been.

Remember, you’re doing the best you can in this moment.

Allow yourself grace, forgive yourself, and move forward with love and kindness.

You deserve it.