Forgiving Yourself

Forgiving Yourself

(The title connotes a continuum or continuous process of forgiving. That is true, and that's the case if we're to fully exhaust the opportunities on the road of this journey called life).

Why would you need to forgive yourself?

Generally, when we speak of forgiving, we’re talking about forgiving someone. To forgive is to let go and no longer hold it against. I'm sure you've heard it said that holding a grudge against someone and not forgiving them is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. In this particular instance, we are talking about forgiving oneself. Here, you're drinking the poison and expecting to die. Well, you will die; if you don't forgive yourself - getting rid of the poison.

There have been many occasions in our lives (and I am guilty as charged) where we made decisions that we regret or wish we never made, resulting in experiences we wish we never had or that we'd forget about. Well, if you're living and breathing and reading this, you're on a journey called life. And on this journey, life happens, things happen that we cannot explain or understand or fully comprehend the why or how; except that it happened. It's called life, so we must continue on the journey. Sometimes we allow these things that happen to us to slow us down in our journey. Others allow these occurrences to paralyze them, in that they haven't been able to move forward an inch or mile up the road of life. Well, one must find it within themselves to forgive themselves and let go, so that they can move on in the journey of life.

How does one do that?

Well, it’s like letting go of a balloon that you're hanging on to. The balloon is going where it’s going, not necessarily in the path that you need to be on. You have no control over the balloon or it’s direction. Except to let go of the balloon, so that you can hit the ground and be grounded again or firm footed. That headache, that thing that’s killing you softly, that thing that’s killing you kindly, that thing that’s killing you gently, but surely - LET IT GO!!!!!

Some find it hard to forgive themselves or to let go. To them, the enormity of the unpardonable sin for which they cannot or will not forgive themselves is a dark spot or dark knight of the soul in their lives. Let me put it this way, as plain and simple as I can. There's no such thing as dark spot or dark knight of the soul, it's an intellectual construct that imprisons you, imaginary prison bars, walk through it, and go free. Anything can quickly develop into a dark knight of the soul if you let it. The key is to not let it. Thus, let go of the matter; let go of the balloons.

For example, I cannot be all things to all people. Even those I care about. As a result, I will disappoint some. But I have to realize that I'm not God, that I have limitations (for example I can't be at two places at the same time). As a result, I must continually forgive myself so as not to be bugged down by self guilt. Life must continue, the journey must move on.

Quote of the Week:

Author James Clear, in his weekly 3-2-1 Thursday Newsletter (September 3, 2020), shares the following wisdom:

"Build before you have to.

- Build knowledge before you have to.

- Build strength before you have to.

- Build an emergency fund before you have to.

Let internal pressure drive you today, so you can handle external pressure tomorrow."

Book of the Month:

“Reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body.” - Joseph Addison

Atomic Habits, James Clear. (I told a friend, if this book does not change my life, yet again; then there’s no hope for me. He LOL. I hope this book will do for you what it did for me).

#lifestyle #habits #change