As we think about whatever it is that we are having trouble forgiving ourselves for, we should consider if our expectations around that are realistic to who we were at the time we made that mistake.
Are we having a hard time forgiving ourselves for not setting ourselves on a better path for life? What was going on in our life then? What pressures were we dealing with? Are those expectations of our past even realistic? Put it all into context.
Whatever we did back then got us to where we are now. Accept that it is all part of Hashem’s bigger plan; there is a certain perfection in it all. There was something we had to learn or strengthen that we got from that experience. And here we are today, at this moment – a good time for a fresh start. We have a new awareness of what we could do differently in similar situations in the future. Starting now.