QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"If you haven't forgiven yourself something, how can you forgive
others?"
--Dolores Huerta
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
Self forgiveness is spoken of but too often undone. We all need to forgive ourselves for something. If we do not forgive and let go, then we carry the event with us and keep it active in our consciousness. We live in the past instead of forgiving, forgetting and living in the present. Hurts that we have done to others or to ourselves, actions that we have postponed until too late, opportunities that we have bypassed, all these actions or inactions are in the past and cannot be erased. But we can forgive them.
How do we forgive ourselves? When we do a wrong to another, we can say to that person, "Forgive me. I am very sorry for what I have done." Can't we do the same to ourselves? "I cannot talk to myself!" you say. Why not? We have all kinds of inner dialogs about negative things. Stop and listen the next time you feel a reluctance to do something. Where is that reluctance coming from? Usually it is from our own self talk. So "self talk" your own forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean we condone what we have done, but it does mean we let go of it and move on with increased knowledge and growth.
Look in the mirror before you retire this evening and say, "I forgive you for (whatever you have been carrying around for way too long)." If that feels awkward, do it anyway! Do it repeatedly until you truly feel the forgiveness. You may also write a letter to yourself asking forgiveness. When we do this--when true inner forgiveness comes forth--we can then truly and sincerely seek forgiveness from others and freely give forgiveness to others.
So seek forgiveness, but seek it in yourself first. You will grow taller by doing so, and become lighter with the removal of the weights of guilt and self incrimination.
Blessings and Love,
Allen Schmeltz
Copyright © 1999 Allen F. Schmeltz. All rights reserved.
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