Forgiving others is hard… Forgiving yourself is harder.

This week, before our hell-on-wheels of a leg workout, I had all the Rebels write down two things… What they forgive themselves for on one card and what they’re fighting for on another. Two very important things that tend to be overlooked and forgotten when times are toughest.

On the forgiveness card, I wanted it to be as big or small as seen necessary. The one thing I DIDN’T want to happen though was for this to be taken lightly. No matter the issue, you need to learn to forgive yourself and move on or you’ll always be tethered to the shame of not feeling good enough. There is a strength in forgiving oneself of shortcomings and regrets, a strength that is far more difficult to implement than people either realize or are willing to admit.

Well when it was time to start boot camp, I shut the door, covered the windows, and turned the lights off. With everyone against the wall, I made very clear what we were going to do with these cards everyone filled out… I was going to read off every single one as the entire team did a wall-sit in the dark, then we were going to BURN those cards. Forgive and move on. This was a lesson in letting go so you can hold on.

At the end of the wall sit, after every single card had been read, there was a charged silence. Everyone was full of revelation and the realization that they related to more than 3/4’s of the forgiveness cards. When I asked for a show of hands to people who related to more than 1 card… hands shot up. All of them. Those very hands stayed up when I asked if anybody related to more than 3… 5… half… The point was proven.

If you saw my last video where I burned everyone’s card that had the thing they hated most about themselves written on it, then you’ve noticed a trend… All of these “mistakes” and transgressions people hate, are ashamed of, and are hard to forgive are universal to almost EVERY SINGLE PERSON. It didn’t matter the age, gender, occupation, fitness level, or goal… At a basic human level, everyone relates to the simplest of problems… The struggle to be healthy and happy. 

If you take the time to watch the video and see any forgiveness cards you relate to, then attach yourself to it… Carry it with you the duration of the song and watch it burn away, setting you free of the burden that you’ll never be good enough. You’re ALREADY good enough, that’s not the tough part… The tough part is REALIZING IT.

There will always be mistakes to be made. Slip ups to be had. Moments of disappointment will lurk around every corner… Yet you are the one who has the ultimate say in the matter! What choice do you make? I say take what you need out of the situation and move on with your head held high.

After all, you’ve got to want it more than anything because anything can stop you.

– Rebel8