The Self-Blame Game and Forgiveness

Let's talk about he blame game, forgiveness and guilt. Did you ever wonder why people feel guilt even though they have done nothing wrong? Humans have the psychological need for order. If something they experience is chaotic; blame is the easiest way to make order of it. Sometimes we blame ourselves and sometimes we blame others. But most of us go back and forth between the two.

For example, if someone who we thought loved us, hurts us, we become hurt and confused (chaos), and we try to make sense of it. Immediately we assume we must have done something wrong. It must be me, I am the common denominator. I always mess up.

But soon, we come to our own defense inside our head. Wait a minute...That wasn't fair that they did this. That was mean.

Then, given all this, we have trouble trusting ourselves, so we can't depend on ourselves to know what to conclude, and the back and forth is perpetuated.

Now we are more confused. Is it me? Is it them? Me? Them? I call this raging conflict inside our heads the blame game.

The Self-Blame Game

The blame game is where most of our suffering lies. Either and both blames cut right into our self identity. We don't know if we are good or not. It's hard to be lovable, vindicated, or validated.

Yes, the original hurt hurt. But it is expanded a thousand fold by the blame game. This is because in making order of the original chaos, we've created a now un-orderable chaos. And we get stuck in it with no place to stand. There is no innocence for us (maybe we don't deserve it), no justice (because what if it is us), no forgiveness (because who should we forgive?), no love (because how can you be lovable?). No understanding (so how could anyone else understand?).

Does this strike a cord?

How Do We Get Out of the Blame Game?

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness doesn't mean you conclude that you did something wrong and then forgive yourself. It is not like the idea of forgiving a sin.

Self forgiveness means you lift the veil of the blame and you can see your own beauty. I use the word to mean having compassion for yourself. It is a way of letting go of the blame game by not letting it define you anymore. It is letting go of the guilt of it all (knowing you don't deserve the guilt). Knowing you are lovable, because you are a good person. This means that you love yourself and see good in yourself no matter what happened to you.

You lay down the weapons of the blame war, and surrender that it doesn't matter who did what and why, because you decide that you did the best you could at the time. Recognize that you survived with skills and those skills say something about what you hold precious. And holding that precious makes you beautiful.

It may also help to understand that the other person acted out of his or her own hurt, or bad self image. Not that this condones what he or she did, but it helps you see your identity separately.

"People aren't mean to you because they don't like you, they are mean to you because they don't like themselves." -Jodi

Sometimes you are still in relationship with the person who hurt you. Don't worry. This practice will not take you away from them. The blame game probably has done a good job of putting distance in that relationship anyhow, or at least having you desperately seeking their approval, or isolating yourself since you feel unworthy.

Self forgiveness, or deciding you are innocent will only help all relationships you are in. You will begin to trust yourself and this will allow you to open to people who treat you well, and compassionately set limits with those who don't, (outwardly or inwardly).

Self forgiveness is a decision to trust yourself. -Jodi

What are your barriers to self forgiveness?

You can also connect with Jodi Lobozzo Aman:

I blog here: Heal Now and Forever Be In Peace, share here: Twitter@JodiAman, Google+ and inspire here: Facebook: Heal Now and Forever Be in Peace.