Forgiveness and in particular, forgiving yourself, is the thing that changes everything else!
Once you forgive yourself, you can find it in your heart to forgive others. And if you can forgive yourself and others, then your peace is restored. And feeling peace is feeling joy!
I have learned to tell the difference when I have peace in my gut (where I actually feel most things) and not. And I am working on recognising it, then finding out what fear lies behind the lack of peace and then letting it go or addressing it.
Peace in your gut is a great indicator of your level of joy - in everything. Without forgiving yourself and feeling compassion for yourself, that peace is hard to find - or feel!
So this is your mission - should you choose to accept it!
Give yourself 30 minutes every couple of days for a couple of weeks (if you need that long), and reflect on and write down all the situations in your life in which you need to forgive YOURSELF!
Remember, if you are one that was abused as a little child - IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT.
Or if you feel you have been a 'bad' parent or grouchy - be gentle on yourself. Forgive yourself and make a promise that you will be more conscious of how you behave!
Just forgive yourself no matter what - not even for anything specific - no need to delve - just decide to forgive yourself - and make a decision to be mindful and conscious of how you are behaving in every moment - and you won't need to forgive yourself!
If it's the little child in you that needs forgiveness - hug them and let them know you love them and you forgive them no matter what.
When you forgive yourself for whatever you have done in the past or have had done to you, you can then work on forgiving others.
You don't have to feel great love for them or speak to them - just decide to forgive them. Most of us will never understand why things happen in the grand scheme - but we can chose to do what we need to in order to learn our lessons - or not!
Our lesson is often self forgiveness! And always LOVE - self love first, then you can love others.
If you can't think of a way to forgive yourself, try the ancient Hawaiian Ho'oponopono Prayer - used for centuries to heal.
Repeat with as much feeling as possible:
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you
I love you.
You, the adult, can say this to you, the fearful, unsafe child trapped inside - or to you the adult who needs to be forgiven.
You can say it to anyone in person - or send the thoughts to them.
If you can really mean the words, it works faster! Start with saying them and grow into meaning them!
Above all - find a way to forgive yourself!
When you feel peace in your stomach (or heart) - you will know you have succeeded!
Zooties,
Amanda Gore
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