The Self-Forgiveness Handbook

Thom Rutledge is onto something. Writing in the awareness that the line between spirituality and psychology has blurred, his third self-help book concentrates on kindness. That is, be kind first to yourself and your kindness will flow to others. All psychological healing comes from the ability to forgive oneself.

"A common fear," he writes, "is that self-forgiveness is a snazzy, politically correct, socially acceptable way of letting ourselves off the hook by avoiding accountability and personal responsibility. This is absolutely not true." Self-forgiveness is the starting point of personal accountability. Think of it this way: the individual stuck in self-doubt and self-contempt will be more governed by selfish considerations. Such mental distractions and detritus mire one in self-absorption. Sounds good; how do we get there? First step: to tap the power of awareness, acknowledging the nagging, internal conflict between what we were taught to be in childhood and our present, authentic selves.

Through journal writings and visualization exercises that facilitate deep, internal work, Thom Rutledge (interestingly, he is also a professional magician) takes the seeker on a journey from self-criticism to regenerative self-compassion.