The gift you give yourself.
This theme has been floating around in my mind for quite some time now and I was very resistant to write a Blog about it. Why? I really have no answer, so “why not”! Here it is. Many of you may relate to this. Once given a “message” to do something, it does not leave until you follow through with it. I got a big push to write this. The universe went so far as to put in my line of vision all sorts of articles on forgiveness, they were jumping out at me for weeks, so dear readers, here goes my take on what I know and what I have learned over the years about The Power of Forgiveness.
Forgiveness. It is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Honestly! Try it!
When you rid yourself of blaming or resenting another for something they may have done or said to you it is similar to a bag of cement falling from your shoulders. Just imagine living, walking, working, sleeping, carrying that heavy load day after day. Once the load is gone, you lose pounds – literally. You look lighter and you feel lighter. Your family and friends will notice the difference and you will feel so much happier.
Apologizing – another form of forgiveness. If you’ve offended someone – apologize. Do not drag around resentment with you like a ball and chain. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It will ultimately show in your facial expression and rob you of joy. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, apologize, forget and move on with your life. You are worth it!
Many are of the opinion that forgiveness releases the person who hurt them from blame, thereby allowing that person to believe that everything is “okay,” and “all is forgiven and forgotten.” Not at all! You have forgiven. That does not mean you have forgotten the hurt you experienced. By forgiving, you give yourself “that wonderful gift of peace and harmony.” Also you released the negative energy surrounding the episode that caused you hurt.
Here is something very profound I found in an article that makes so much sense: Scientists, physicians, and psychologists who have researched the relationship between stress and illness have concluded that the ability or inability to forgive affects the outcome of serious illness. People who have a forgiving nature increase their chances of recovery.
I have heard many people say to me, “I will never forgive or forget” when something happens that makes them sad or angry. It makes me sad for them, because I sense the bitterness they are holding on to in their lives. One cannot be at peace while negative energy is choking out the love that wants to reside there.
The only advice I can share in a case like that is “Forgive. You need not forget! Love yourself and know that every moment you spend upset, anguished, angry or hurt because of someone else’s behaviour, is a moment in which you have chosen to give up control of your life. You are special! Reclaim your power. There is no one like you and there never will be”.
Live, Love and Laugh. I would love to hear your thoughts on forgiveness.
May you always walk gently in sandals of love.
Namaste,
Sharon
Greetings! As summer slowly fades away I prepare to welcome fall and the need to create on a different level. Always when the trees start to turn and their leaves flutter down to mother earth, I know fall is on its way. By then, I am ready to bid farewell to my Garden Sanctuary. Suddenly, there is a stirring of New Beginnings, not unlike my two great nephews who were filled with excitement as they anxiously awaited their first day of the new school year. The 6 year old eyes sparkled as he told me about his new French Immersion school and his 4 year old brother was thrilled and delighted he was going into JK. Indeed! Fall is without a doubt a time of New Beginnings regardless of age.
cucumber vines gave richly of their crop. My Garden Sanctuary is where I spend time each summer recharging and renewing my mental, spiritual and physical “batteries” in preparation for a creative fall.
Dreams are powerful! Dreams are inspired pictures of a new future waiting for each of us. The bigger the Dream – the more powerful the urge to work towards that Dream. A dream starts out like a tiny seed in the mind and that seed once it is planted needs to be nurtured in order for it to grow and bloom. When we ignore our dream(s) they often die and a little piece of us dies with it. I feel that our Creator, Universe, Source Energy, Infinite Mind (whatever you can relate to) will never plant a Dream Seed in your mind without giving you every opportunity and resource needed to accomplish that DREAM. When you have a dream, pay attention to it! Nurture it! Be assured your dream will one day become an important part of your reality. I love the following quote:
To gather in Circle is a sacred event when all minds are focused as one.
Who ever coined that phrase never lived in North America. That is my personal belief. It is a very hectic time here in Canada as everyone seems to try putting twelve months of outdoor activity into the sometimes four months of good weather. That I consider being fun time! Only today I heard on the news that in the US people are complaining of being stressed trying to figure out their vacation and where to go and what to do. I was surprised and a little shocked to hear this because a vacation should be a time to look forward to with anticipation and expectation. Some people I know plan trips to visit relatives, go abroad, go camping with the kids or just think up and plan fun ways to spend their vacation time. For me, if I am staying home I love planning day trips out of town, long week-ends to places I enjoy visiting in Ontario, or just puttering around my yard and garden gives me so much peace and tranquility, added to that long walks in the forest which I enjoy. I am so rejuvenated being in nature as I am sure so many of you are. Vacation is also time to spend with my family and catch up with friends I rarely get to see. All those things make vacations very special for me.
