Technique 1.225 Practising Self-Forgiveness in Change
Introduction
The aim is to help participants release self-blame or guilt from past change experiences and reframe mistakes as valuable learning moments, building psychological safety and resilience for future change.
Workshop Flow
1. Setting the Context
Facilitator prompt:
Change often brings uncertainty, and with it, mistakes, regrets or things we wish we had done handled differently.
This technique is about letting go of self-blame, acknowledging what we’ve learned and moving forward with renewed confidence.
Starter:
- Take a deep breath in and out.
- Ask participants to silently identify one situation in a past change where they’ve felt guilt, regret or disappointment.
2. Reflection: The Self-Forgiveness Path
Distribute the Self-Forgiveness Reflection Sheet (below) or show it on screen.
Self-Forgiveness Reflection Sheet
|
Step |
Guiding Questions |
YoYour Notes |
|
1. 1. Acknowledge |
What happened? What role did I play? What emotions arise when I think about it? |
|
|
2. 2. Accept |
What can I take responsibility for and what was beyond my control? |
|
|
3. 3. Learn |
What did this experience teach me about myself, others or change? |
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4. 4. Forgive |
What would I say to a close friend in my position? Can I offer myself that same compassion? |
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5. 5. Recommit |
What new behaviour or mindset will I carry forward into the next change? |
3. Pair or Small-Group Dialogue
Participants share (to their comfort level) what they learned from reflection.
Prompts for discussion:
- “What surprised you as you reflected?”
- “How does forgiving yourself open space for learning or new action?”
- “What would a team culture that practises forgiveness looks like?”
Encourage listening without fixing: as the goal is understanding, not providing advice.
4. Group Harvest & Reframing
As a group, discuss:
- What do we, as a team, need to forgive ourselves for in the past change process?
- What can we now let go of to move forward more effectively?
- What will we do differentlynext time?
Captures key themes on a flipchart or shared document under the following themes:
- “Let Go Of” list
- “Carry Forward” list
5. Closing
Invite each person to finish this sentence aloud or silently:
“Today, I forgive myself for ___ and I choose to learn ___.”
Materials Needed
- Reflection sheets or digital copies
- Pens/sticky notes
- Flipchart or shared screen for capturing group insights
- Calm background music (optional)
💡 Optional Add-On: Leader’s Practice
Encourage leaders to:
- Model self-forgiveness openly (“I made a mistake, and here’s what I learned.”)
- Include a short “learning and letting go” check-in in team retrospectives.
- Reinforce that failure is feedback in every change initiative.
(main source: Susan Shapiro, 2025)