Forgiving Yourself

1. We have talked about forgiving others and asking for forgiveness from others. What we still have to talk about is forgiving ourselves. When we hurt someone else, it can make us feel really horrible. And even though the person we hurt forgave us, we can sometimes forget to forgive ourselves as well. Why do you think forgiving yourself is important?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question] 

• When we hold onto and focus on tons of hurt feelings, it can make it pretty hard to let the good feelings into our life

• Some people think there is a lesson in every situation, and if we do not forgive ourselves it is hard to learn what the lesson is

• When we cannot forgive ourselves, it makes it very hard to forgive other people or expect others to forgive us

2. When we hold on to hurt feelings and do not forgive or ask forgiveness, how does that make us feel? How does it make your body feel? How does it make your heart feel? How does it make your mind feel?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the questions]

• When we keep a lot of negative feelings bottled up inside, some people have a hard time sleeping or paying attention

• For some people, holding onto negative feelings can make their physical body not feel well

• Not letting hurt feelings go can make your heart feel heavy and sad

3. Whether you are giving or receiving forgiveness, these actions affect how our body feels. How do you feel after you find forgiveness?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the questions] 

• For many people, forgiveness can make their whole body feel better

• We can gain a greater understanding of ourselves or other people through forgiveness

• Many people find much of their unhappiness has gone away, once they have found forgiveness

• Some people feel that forgiveness helps them to sleep better and not stay up worrying

Forgiveness Abstract Art

Materials Needed:

• Colorful Construction Paper
• White Paper
• Pens or Markers
• Pencils or Crayons
• Scissors
• Glue

Directions:

• Have the children pick a colorful piece of paper and a writing utensil of their choice.

• Ask them to either draw a picture or use words that describe a past hurt, something they either need to forgive or ask forgiveness for.

• After all the children are finished, they can either rip their paper apart or cut it into various pieces.

• Once the children have an array of differing little shards of paper, have them use the pieces to create something new on the white piece of paper by gluing the little pieces together to create a design all their own. The idea is that they will take some negative feelings they have had and let them go to create something beautiful.

[Invite the group to find a relaxing position, take a mat or towel, if you are working on a hard floor. They may sit or lie down to be comfortable. Speak slightly slower in a soft, soothing tone throughout, pausing briefly between sentences. You may play soft, instrumental music in the background while reading the meditation script]

Welcome to our Meditation Time: The time where we relax and connect to the spirit in and around us.  I invite you to put a cushion on the floor, and to sit cross-legged, with a nice tall back and your hands relaxed in your lap. Quietly do that now, as we begin our meditation.  [Wait until the group is settled, then read the meditation script]  [Optional: Begin music.]

Close your eyes and let your muscles relax into the floor.  Take a slow, deep breath in, all the way down to your belly … you feel your belly rise as you think 1, 2, 3.  Feel your belly fall as you slowly breathe out, thinking 1,2,3.  Breathe in — 1, 2, 3 … breathe out – 1, 2, 3.  Keep breathing in and out slowly and steadily.  [Pause.]

Know in this moment that all of us make mistakes … that’s what makes us human.  But the good thing about mistakes is that we can learn from them and we can forgive ourselves.  Is there anything you need to forgive yourself for?  Were you unkind to a friend?  Did you disrespect a parent, brother, or sister?  Did you do something that you knew was wrong?  Did you think unkind thoughts about yourself?  Any of those can leave you feeling bad.  But know that you can make another choice … a better choice.  You can give yourself the gift of forgiveness.  So take your hand and put it on your heart.  Feel your heart beating. [Pause.] Know your heart is the center of Love in your body.  That is where Forgiveness lives.  Now take a moment to think of something you’d like to forgive yourself for.  Forgiving yourself will let yourself move forward from a mistake that you have made.  As you feel your heart beating, silently say to yourself, “I forgive you.  [Pause.]   I love you. [Pause]  And I know you will do better next time.”  [Pause.]

Now let’s take one more deep breath in – 1, 2, 3.  And one more deep breath out – 1, 2, 3.  Now slowly open your eyes, and let your body reconnect with this space and the people in it.  We end our meditation feeling at peace and knowing that we can forgive ourselves.

[Optional: Turn off music]  [Optional: Say: Please return your cushion to its starting place]

Closing — Choose One:

Closing Affirmation — Option 1 

Turn to the person to your right, look them in the eye and say “I am happy I could share this time with you and hear about your beliefs.”

 Closing Prayer — Option 2  
The light of god surrounds us
The love of god enfolds us
The power of god protects us
The presence of god watches over us
Wherever we are, god is and all is well!