The Power of Self-Forgiveness: A Process to Release Shame, Guilt, and Regret

The Power of Self-Forgiveness: A Process to Release Shame, Guilt, and Regret

Drawing from her own recovery from alcoholism, codependency, people-pleasing and control addiction, Rachel talks frankly about the way many people replay past mistakes: "We will spend so much of our life going back and ruminating over, I should have done this." She contrasts mainstream ideas of forgiveness with a deeper spiritual approach influenced by texts like *A Course in Miracles* and *The Way of Mastery*, where forgiveness is less about declaring someone "wrong" and more about changing the meaning we give our experiences.

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation with Rev. Rachel Harrison centres on one powerful spiritual tool: self-forgiveness. Rather than staying stuck in old stories of shame, guilt and regret, the focus here is on learning to "stop holding ourselves hostage to the past" and to shift gently towards self-love. You'll hear Rachel share practical tools from her Recover Your Soul process, particularly step five, which focuses on releasing beliefs, patterns and stories that no longer serve.

One simple exercise she describes is writing, "I forgive myself for..." and letting the pen keep moving – whether it's forgiving herself for drinking, for not being the mother or partner she wanted to be, or for constantly trying to perform to be liked. She also reflects on her marriage and family life, showing how clinging to past hurt kept her stuck in old dynamics, and how forgiving herself and her husband helped create a very different present.

The tone is honest, spiritual and gently humorous, with plenty of "me too" moments for anyone who has ever beaten themselves up for past choices. If you're carrying regret about your drinking, relationships or life decisions, this episode offers a compassionate invitation: what might change if you truly forgave yourself today?