11 Superb Tips to Giving Yourself Grace

This post is all about giving yourself grace

We all stumble. We all make mistakes. We are all human. When we mess up, it’s important that we give ourselves grace.

What does this mean? Grace is defined as “unmerited favor.” It means that we extend compassion and understanding to ourselves, even when we don’t deserve it.

Why is this important? Because when we don’t give ourselves grace, it can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness. These negative emotions can have a negative impact on our mental health.

This post will discuss eleven ways to give yourself grace and why it matters for your mental health! I will also provide biblical references along the way.

Ready? Let’s go…

What is the meaning of grace?

Hebrews says that God is full of grace (חסד) and mercy (רחמים). The word Grace (Χάρις), in Greek, means “favor” or “goodwill.” It is often used to describe the kindness and favor that God shows us. In the New Testament, Grace is also used to describe God’s unmerited favor—something that we don’t deserve but that God freely gives us.

Hebrews tells us that God’s grace is what saved us. It’s a free gift from Him that we can’t earn. And because it’s unmerited, we don’t have to work for it or deserve it in any way. All we have to do is accept it.

But what does it mean to “accept” God’s Grace? Does that mean just believing that Jesus died for our sins and that He rose again? Yes, of course! But it also means something more than that. To truly accept God’s Grace means repenting of our sinfulness and turning away from our old life of disobedience. It means submitting to Christ as Lord and Savior and living a new life obedient to His will.

When we give ourselves grace, it’s not just a one-time event. It’s a continual process of turning to God and away from sin. It’s a daily decision to follow Jesus no matter what the cost. But it’s worth it because His Grace is sufficient for us. No matter how many times we fail, God’s Grace is always there for us, ready to pick us up and dust us off. So don’t be discouraged if you fall short sometimes. Just keep on giving yourself grace, and God will continue to work in your life, molding you into the image of His Son!

So today, give yourself grace. Forgive yourself for your mistakes and shortcomings. And then go out and live a life of obedience to God, knowing that His Grace is always there for you. It’s the only way to truly experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give us! (John 10:10 )

When was the last time you showed yourself grace?

Okay, quick question: Give an example of a time when you showed someone else grace.

Now, think of a time when you need to show yourself some grace. What are some things that come to mind?

I’ll go first:

• I need to be more patient with myself.
• I need to stop being so hard on myself.
• I need to give myself a break.

All of these are examples of giving yourself grace. Showing yourself patience, understanding, and kindness is vital to having healthy mental health. Why? Because studies have shown that individuals who are self-compassionate have increased psychological well-being and decreased anxiety and depression.

So often in life, we are our own worst critics.💔We beat ourselves up for every little thing we do wrong, and it can be incredibly discouraging. That’s why it’s so important to give yourself grace.

What does it mean to give yourself grace? It means being kind and forgiving towards yourself, even when you make mistakes. It means recognizing that you’re not perfect, and that’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes – what counts is how you learn and grow from them.

One of the best ways to give yourself grace is to remember that God does. He loves you unconditionally and wants what’s best for you. When you make mistakes, He doesn’t write you off – He knows you’re capable of great things.

Verses about giving yourself Grace

Here are some verses on grace. They can be applied to giving yourself grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw what the Grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

Acts 15:11 No! We believe it is through the Grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s Grace.

How perfectionism frustrates grace

When we strive for perfection, we miss out on the beauty of grace. Grace is unmerited favor. It’s not something we can earn or achieve on our own. Instead, it’s a gift that’s given to us.

Unfortunately, our society tells us that we need to be perfect in order to be worthy of love and acceptance. This couldn’t be further from the truth! God loves us just as we are – imperfections and all.

Giving yourself grace doesn’t mean that you’re excusing your bad behavior or making excuses for yourself. It simply means recognizing that you’re human and that you’ll make mistakes sometimes. And when you do, extend grace to yourself just as you would to others.

Giving yourself grace is an integral part of living a healthy and balanced life. It’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s okay to be imperfect. You are worthy of love and acceptance – just as you are.

Why is giving yourself grace important for mental health…

When we are able to forgive ourselves, it helps reduce stress and anxiety. It also allows us to develop a more positive outlook on life. And when we have a positive outlook, it leads to increased happiness and overall well-being! Give yourself grace today so that you can live your best life!

One of the most important things we can do for our mental health is to give ourselves grace. When we make mistakes, it’s easy to get caught up in feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness. However, when we extend grace to ourselves, it allows us to move on from our mistakes and learn from them. This is an essential part of growth! If we dwell on our mistakes and beat ourselves up about them, it will only hold us back.

How negative thoughts and cognitive distortions can affect giving yourself grace

If you’re constantly putting yourself down or beating yourself up for every little thing, it will be really tough to give yourself grace. One of the main things that can get in the way of giving yourself grace is what’s called negative automatic thoughts (NATs). NATs are basically the unhelpful, negative things we say to ourselves on repeat.

Cognitive distortions are also a big barrier to giving ourselves grace. These are ways that our thinking gets skewed, and we start seeing things in a more negative light than they actually are. Some common cognitive distortions include all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, mental filter, discounting the positive, mind reading/fortune-telling, catastrophizing, and personalization.

If we can catch ourselves when we’re having NATs or engaging in cognitive distortions, it can be a game-changer in terms of giving ourselves grace. Just being aware that we’re doing it can help us start to change our thinking and ultimately give ourselves the grace we deserve.

So why is it so important to give yourself grace? Well, for one thing, research has shown that self-compassion is associated with increased psychological well-being (Neff, 2003). In other words, the more self-compassionate you are, the better off you’ll be mentally. Additionally, studies have found that self-compassion is associated with increased motivation (Breines & Chen, 2012). So not only will you feel better mentally if you give yourself grace, but you’ll also be more likely to stick with your goals.

Here are eleven ways to give yourself grace:

1. Forgive yourself

This is the first and most crucial step in giving yourself grace. You must forgive yourself for your mistakes before you can move on from them. Give yourself permission to let go of the past and start fresh. Holding onto anger and resentment will only hurt you in the long run.

2. Be patient with yourself

Learning from your mistakes takes time. Know that you are capable of growth and change. Be patient with yourself as you navigate this process.

3. Cut yourself some slack

Give yourself a break! Don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t go according to plan. You are human, and you will make mistakes.

4. Acknowledge your progress

As you work on forgiving yourself and moving on from your mistakes, take time to acknowledge your progress! This will help motivate you to keep going.

5. Practice self-kindness

Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend. Be understanding and patient with yourself. Give yourself the same compassion and care that you would give to someone else.

6. Give yourself permission to feel your emotions

Instead of bottling up your emotions or numbing them, try to feel them and healthily work through them. It’s okay to feel sad, angry, scared, or any other emotion – they’re all a normal part of life.

7. Practice mindfulness

Pay attention to the present moment without judgment. Notice your thoughts and emotions, but don’t get caught up in them. Accept them as they are.

8. Set realistic expectations for yourself

We all have different limitations – physical, mental, emotional, etc. So instead of setting impossible standards for yourself, try to set realistic ones that take your limitations into account.

9. Seek professional help

If you’re struggling to give yourself grace, it may be helpful to seek professional help. A therapist can provide you with support and guidance as you work through this process.

10. Lean on your support system

Talk to your friends and family members about what you’re going through. They can offer love and understanding when you need it the most.

11. Practice self-compassion

Treat yourself with kindness and compassion. Be gentle with yourself as you work towards giving yourself grace.

And that’s it, folks; 11 superb tips to “giving yourself grace.”

As I close, I want to emphasize that giving yourself grace means being easy on yourself. It means not dwelling on your mistakes or shortcomings but learning from them and moving forward.

So- give yourself grace, and extend that same grace to others! We are all on a journey, and we are all learning and growing. Be patient with yourself, and trust that God is working in you. He will bring about good things in His timing.

Regardless of your situation or how you feel, remember that God’s grace is sufficient for you. Give yourself grace today, and watch God work in and through you.

If you would like to read my blog post about kindness. I think it goes hand in hand with this post beautifully.

Lastly, thank you for reading! I hope this post was helpful and insightful.

Hugs,