Is self-forgiveness required if you have indirectly harmed others by harming yourself emotionally for not acting on your own beliefs of right and wrong?

Because forgiveness is the person’s choice, whether it is toward others or toward oneself, we cannot say that self-forgiveness is required.  Some people will choose to forgive themselves and others will not.  It is a legitimate act to forgive oneself when you have harmed others, even if this occurs from anger toward oneself first and then displaced anger that spills over to unsuspecting other people.  So, in this case, forgiving yourself for harming yourself and then forgiving yourself for hurting someone else would be reasonable and likely would be emotionally healing for you.  As you forgive yourself for harming another person, you might consider approaching that person and asking for forgiveness, when you are ready to do so.

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