The journey of a person’s life involves a deep spiritual and emotional maturation beyond physical growth. Forgiveness is one of the cornerstones of this journey and provides the greatest transformation in the maturation process. A famous saying goes: “The day a child realizes that adults are not perfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.” This statement summarizes the three most important stages a person encounters in his life: facing the truth, acceptance, and reaching inner peace.

Childhood is a period of innocence and pure belief. During this period, children see their parents and other adults around them as flawless and powerful figures. However, adolescence is the time when this perception cracks and the young person realizes that adults can make mistakes too. This awareness starts a process of disappointment and internal questioning. When the myth of perfection is destroyed, the person begins to form a new identity; they reshape themselves, their values ​​and their worldview.

Over time, this internal conflict gives way to a deeper understanding. Adulthood is the beginning of learning to forgive. As the years pass, a person realizes that their parents and other adults also did the best they could under their circumstances. Letting go of the burden of the past is not an endorsement of mistakes, but an acceptance that people are human with their flaws. Forgiveness heals old wounds in the heart and allows a person to form healthier relationships. Becoming an adult is accepting the pain of the past and choosing to grow.

However, the most difficult thing is to forgive oneself. The critic within us judges us in the harshest way; he constantly points out our mistakes, failures and shortcomings to our faces. However, wisdom comes from looking at oneself with compassion. A person who accepts his own mistakes, weaknesses and shortcomings with understanding, makes peace with himself. Seeing the regrets of the past as learning experiences, approaching oneself with love and finding inner peace is true wisdom. Forgiving oneself is the greatest freedom of life; it saves a person from his own darkest dungeons.

Forgiveness is like a gift to oneself. It means getting rid of the chains of the past, letting go of burdens and living a lighter life. Each of us has a journey where we experience these stages in different ways. This journey requires embracing every pain and every joy experienced, and respecting our own story. Because forgiveness is not just letting go of the past, it is embracing the infinite potential of the future. True wisdom begins when we learn to love and accept ourselves.