Conversations on self-forgiveness

Hosted by our Programme Development Lead, Sandra Barefoot, in conversation with our storytellers, this series explores the uncomfortable questions, complexities and ambiguities that make self-forgiveness so very hard.
We will be exploring the perspectives and insights of our storytellers who have experienced prison, domestic violence and the death of family and friends.
Self-forgiveness is the hardest because it’s so bound up with regret, self-pity, shame, with guilt that it’s very very hard to move beyond that. You don’t just feel pain, in a way you are the pain. You’re the cause of the pain. – Marina Cantacuzino, Founder of The Forgiveness Project
The series will also offer a chance for people to explore their own relationship with self-forgiveness. At the end of each conversation there will be space for reflection and an invitation to connect the questions raised to our own personal journeys.
At the end of the series we will be offering a participatory workshop online for those who have attended any of the conversations to deepen their own enquiry.

In conversation with Marina Cantacuzino and Dr Masi Noor
Date: Thursday, 8th June 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
This final conversation offers a space for reflection, bringing together the ideas and common threads raised in the series.
In conversation with Marina Cantacuzino and Dr Masi Noor
Date: Thursday, 8th June 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
This final conversation offers a space for reflection, bringing together the ideas and common threads raised in the series.


About the host
Sandra Barefoot has worked for over 13 years leading our prison programme RESTORE. Her extensive experience in facilitating group processes exploring trauma, shame and pain led her to understand how difficult and almost impossible it feels to forgive ourselves for what we have done. In hosting these conversations, Sandra hopes to explore and grapple with the complexities, nuance and unexpected places where self-forgiveness can arrive.

Contact
If you have any questions or require assistance, please email info@theforgivenessproject.com.

Previous talks
In conversation with Ruchi Singh
Date: Thursday, 11th May 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
Ruchi Singh will be joining us for our first online conversation on Thursday, 11th May to explore the complexities and ambiguities of self-forgiveness in her journey. As a survivor of domestic violence, Ruchi uses her personal story to empower other survivors to speak out.
I’d be damned if I cannot give meaning to this pain. I’d be damned if I let this be swept under the carpet. – Ruchi Singh
Previous talks
In conversation with Ruchi Singh
Date: Thursday, 11th May 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
Ruchi Singh will be joining us for our first online conversation on Thursday, 11th May to explore the complexities and ambiguities of self-forgiveness in her journey. As a survivor of domestic violence, Ruchi uses her personal story to empower other survivors to speak out.
I’d be damned if I cannot give meaning to this pain. I’d be damned if I let this be swept under the carpet. – Ruchi Singh
In conversation with Dunia Shafik and Jacob Dunne
Date: Thursday, 18th May 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
On Thursday, 18 May, Dunia Shafik and Jacob Dunne will be joining us to explore how guilt and grief can play an essential role in forgiving yourself.
I don’t feel shame, I feel guilt and I don’t push it away, I keep it close to me as it is a reminder of my own responsibility and accountability as a mother and it’s a compass to orientate me in the right direction. – Dunia Shafik
I used to blame myself for quite a few years after my mother passed away…that it was my fault…and it’s that aspect of self-forgiveness, the pain I put my mum through was in some way the hardest to forgive myself for. – Jacob Dunne
In conversation with Dunia Shafik and Jacob Dunne
Date: Thursday, 18th May 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
On Thursday, 18 May, Dunia Shafik and Jacob Dunne will be joining us to explore how guilt and grief can play an essential role in forgiving yourself.
I don’t feel shame, I feel guilt and I don’t push it away, I keep it close to me as it is a reminder of my own responsibility and accountability as a mother and it’s a compass to orientate me in the right direction. – Dunia Shafik
I used to blame myself for quite a few years after my mother passed away…that it was my fault…and it’s that aspect of self-forgiveness, the pain I put my mum through was in some way the hardest to forgive myself for. – Jacob Dunne
In conversation with Samantha Lawler
Date: Thursday, 25th May 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
Samantha will be joining us to explore the role of self-forgiveness in healing from life altering experiences.
Forgiveness is not about forgiving the act but forgiving the imperfections which are inherent in all of us. – Samantha Lawler
In conversation with Samantha Lawler
Date: Thursday, 25th May 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
Samantha will be joining us to explore the role of self-forgiveness in healing from life altering experiences.
Forgiveness is not about forgiving the act but forgiving the imperfections which are inherent in all of us. – Samantha Lawler
In conversation with Lis Cashin
Date: Thursday, 1st June 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
Lis Cashin will be joining us to explore the vital role that acceptance and compassion have played in her journey towards self-forgiveness.
I’ve been holding myself to that perfectionist ideal, so ashamed of all the things that were really going on inside me. Perhaps that’s why it’s so very hard to forgive myself as I had some ideal that I should be a certain way because everyone else is. – Lis Cashin
In conversation with Lis Cashin
Date: Thursday, 1st June 2023
Time: 6 – 7pm BST – click here to see what time this will be where you live
Price: £8
Lis Cashin will be joining us to explore the vital role that acceptance and compassion have played in her journey towards self-forgiveness.
I’ve been holding myself to that perfectionist ideal, so ashamed of all the things that were really going on inside me. Perhaps that’s why it’s so very hard to forgive myself as I had some ideal that I should be a certain way because everyone else is. – Lis Cashin