The Innate Power Of True Forgiveness

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“Forgiveness is a gift to yourself. It frees you from the past experiences, and past relationships. it allows you to live in the present time. When you forgive yourself and forgive others, you are indeed free” – Buddha

How can we forgive? What does it look like? What does it feel like? Perhaps, we all have experienced some degree of hurt and pain with difficulty to forgive. Forgiveness is a spiritual practice and conscious choice to let go of resentment toward those who have harmed you, and even for yourself. Going beyond the verbal expression, “I Forgive You“, it comes from a deeper place of freedom inherent in the power of true forgiveness. Oftentimes, we think we are finished with an emotionally challenging situation, but find ourselves dredging up old stories, drifting back and forth, and ruminating over past wrongs. Spiraling out of control with a surge of negative emotions, it becomes apparent that we are not yet done. Obsession with the past in the present inhibits creating a better life.

Whether it is holding on to past grudges, and feelings of betrayal and anger, it is time to lay the burden down. The act of forgiveness is reclaiming our personal power. Find rest, peace and joy with true forgiveness attained by deliberate conscious action, a compassionate heart, reflecting love, and evolving spiritually.

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Deliberate conscious action

What happens if we do not truly forgive? We become defensive and see ourselves as victims, deflect and blame others, and distract ourselves with external sources that may result in destructive behaviors. The act of forgiveness provides an opportunity for self-awareness and self-inquiry. As we  gain more insight, we can release repetitive outworn patterns and make healthier choices. As quoted by Einstein, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it“. As we become more aware, we can respond to ourselves and others differently. Give yourself the gift of time to know yourself and love who you truly are. Self-inquiry makes us curious and insightful as we examine ourselves, ours lives, and make positive and deliberate choices. If necessary, seek supportive guidance and professional help from someone you trust.

A compassionate heart

We are all created from love. Love and value yourself enough to forgive. During times of chaos, you may become mired in self-condemnation, blame, and critical self-judgement without realizing that you did nothing wrong that warranted unjust treatment. We cannot control the behavior of others, but we certainly have a responsibility to ourselves.  Pay attention to how you are talking to yourself. This is the time to be gentle, loving, and compassionate. To be more self-aware, we can ask critical questions including: “What did I not see when I got involved?” “What have I learned from this experience?” “How can I become resilient?”

For those who have harmed you, it may be difficult to look beyond the mortal tyrant trapped in the human self, and see through the eyes of love. While not condoning their behavior, the perpetrator must have had negative experiences  that shaped their life. Be compassionate instead of vengeful.  Letting go and being forgiving is healing and brings ultimate freedom.

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Reflecting love

We are all reflecting mirrors of our character that constantly reveals our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. As we excavate hidden emotions of those perceived unforgivable acts, that may appear to be a mound of troubling memories, become the observer without engagement. Turn the mountain of burdens into a mirror for clarity. Changing your perception of the problem can provide a fresh view and new outlook.

Nurture and care for yourself during trying time. Find joy in ordinary moments. We are entitled to our emotions and authentic self-expression, but should do so in healthy ways. According to Ephesians 4:26 in the New Internal Version of the Bible, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. Free yourself of the emotional and energetic debris of anger and extreme negative emotional states. As Henry Drummond quotes, “Is life not full of opportunities for learning love? Every man and woman every day has a thousand of them”.  See yourself as a manifestation of who you desire to be, and what you would like to attract in your life. Use life experiences as stepping stones and grow in love.

Evolving spiritually

There is beauty and freedom in spiritual growth. We are constantly evolving. Discern deeper meanings from life challenges and experiences. Build your life on the foundation of love. The more we forgive the more we can love. As Drummond states, “The one eternal lesson for all of us is how better we can love.”

 True forgiveness is a genuine opportunity to reclaim our personal power. Jean-Paul Sartre quotes, “Freedom is existence and in existence precedes essence. This means that what we do, how we act in our life, determines our apparent qualities...I exist by defining myself in the world at the moment“. Love is the essence of who we truly are.  Be present in your life,  break with the old, and create from a renewed and loving spirit.

Conclusion

True forgiveness is predicated upon love. Freedom from the past enables us to live fully in each present moment. It is important for us to honor and be patient with ourselves as we move through challenging times. Become stronger and resilient  Be a conscious creator to manifest the life you desire. True forgiveness is an empowering life force that is healing, loving, and liberating.

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