Thursday, August 9, 2012

Forgiving for Good

Thanks T.K. for giving me these nine steps to forgiveness.  I'm typing them here in my blog hoping that by the act of doing so they will float around my consciousness. Like so much we struggle with the answers are elusive.  It's in the effort, however small, that we succeed.



Forgiveness



















1. Know exactly how you feel about what happened and be able to articulate what about the situation is not OK.  Then, tell a trusted couple of people about your experience.

2. Make a commitment to yourself to do what you have to to feel better. Forgiveness is for you and not for anyone else.

3. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciliation with the person who hurt you, or condoning of their actions.  What you are after is to find peace.  Forgiveness can be defined as the "peace and understanding that comes from blaming that which has hurt you less, taking the life experience less personally, and changing your grievance story.

4. Get the right perspective on what is happening. Recognize that your primary distress is coming from the hurt feelings, thoughts and physical upset you are now suffering, not what offended you or hurt you two minutes -or ten years- ago.  Forgiveness helps to heal those hurt feelings.

5. At the moment you feel upset practice a simple stress management technique to sooth your body's fight or flight response.

6. Give up expecting things from other people, or your life, that they do not choose to give to you. Recognize the "unenforceable rules" you have for your health or you how and other people must behave.  Remind yourself that you can hope for health, love, prosperity and work hard to get them.

7. Put you r energy into looking for another way to get your positive goals met than through the experience that has hurt you.  Instead of mentally replaying your hurt seek out new ways to get what you want.

8. Remember that a life well lives is your best revenge.  Instead of focusing on your wounded feelings and thereby giving the person who caused you pain power over you, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you.  Forgiveness is about personal power.

9. Amend your grievance story to remind you of the heroic choice to forgive.




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