Theme of the Week: Self-forgiveness
“Forgive yourself for not knowing earlier what only time could teach.”
- Maya Angelou
Brother,
Hindsight is 20/20.
Looking back, it is easy to focus on what you should have done differently. It is easy to replay moments, question your decisions, and be critical of the person you once were. The mind has a tendency to return to past mistakes and hold onto them longer than necessary.
I have experienced this many times.
For me, it often comes up when I reflect on how I showed up in my relationships during my early years in sport. I competed as a goalkeeper in both hockey and soccer at a high level. The pressure and intensity of both environments were constant, especially while balancing them at the same time.
Over time, I developed a way of thinking that I believed was necessary to succeed. I convinced myself that closeness was incompatible with competition. If we were chasing the same goal, I felt there needed to be distance. I kept teammates at arm’s length, often without fully realizing it.
My focus was always on improving, being chosen, and proving my place. At the time, that mindset felt like discipline. It felt like commitment. But looking back, I see how much it limited me in both my relationships and success.
Because of that approach, I missed out on meaningful connections. I held my guard up when I could have been more open. I was so focused on what was ahead that I was not fully present in what was happening around me.
There are moments I look back on now and wish I had understood things differently...but that understanding only came with time.
I did not yet know that two things could exist at once - that I could be competitive, driven, and committed to my craft, while also allowing myself to connect with the people around me. That awareness came later, through life experience and reflection.
And that is where this lesson has shifted for me.
I did not know any better. I was navigating pressure, expectations, and growth in the only way I understood. I made decisions based on what I believed would help me succeed. I was doing the best I could with the awareness I had at the time.
That matters.
Now, when those memories come up, I try to approach them with a sense of understanding and compassion rather than criticism and judgement. Holding onto past mistakes does not move you forward, but learning from them does. Give yourself permission to let go of what you did not yet understand.
This awareness and self-forgiveness allow you to move forward with clarity, carrying the lessons forward so you can grow without repeating the same patterns.
At Path to Becoming, we believe growth is what strengthens mindset, and we’re grateful to have you on this journey with us.
Have a great week!
Stay strong, even when you are not. It’s okay, you are not alone.
With love always,
Michael Argyrides
Path to Becoming
