The Mirror of Forgiveness: Loving Others to Love Yourself

One of the most profound lessons in life is discovering that love and forgiveness are not separate from how we treat ourselves. When we love and forgive others, we unlock healing within our own hearts. This deep connection between self-love and forgiveness runs through spiritual traditions, and my favorite book, A Course in Miracles (ACIM,) beautifully illustrates this universal truth:

In forgiving others, we learn to forgive ourselves.

The Connection Between Loving Others and Loving Yourself

It can be easy to overlook the connection between how we treat others and how we feel about ourselves. We often see people as being totally separate from us, where the love we give or withhold from others is unrelated to our inner world. However, ACIM challenges this notion by reminding us that “As you see him, you will see yourself.”

How we perceive others is a reflection of how we perceive ourselves.

If we judge others harshly, it’s often because we carry that same judgment within. If we see others as unworthy of love or forgiveness, it may point to unresolved feelings of unworthiness in our own lives. By practicing love toward others, we can soften the harsh judgments we’ve internalized. It’s a shift in perspective…