“To err is human, to forgive is divine”.
William Shakespear
In that brief sentence, in those eight words, Shakespeare addresses the paradox of life and my formula for living it magically. He speaks to the two diametrically opposed Selves that live within each one of us. The unconscious programmed human part of us that makes mistakes and errors. And the conscious aware divine Self that lives free of judgements and critical thinking, being present in this moment of now, showing up as authentic and loving, beyond all conditions, the place where forgiveness emanates.
As human beings, we make all sorts of mistakes we often believe are unforgivable. Whether it is self imposed or directed towards others, we are left with an experience of incompletion.
All kinds of emotions block forgiveness. Fear and resentment keep us stuck in old outdated beliefs. Letting go of those beliefs creates an opportunity for allowing forgiveness to be present.
When we surrender and let go of the past and all the mental connection to it, there is an open pathway to consciousness and choice. This has nothing to do with intelligence or intellect. Some of the most intelligent people are suffering with pain and depression, and unconsciousness. Most intellectuals have a difficult time accepting the idea of a Spiritual Self. They confuse it with religion. When we live in this state, we are missing the experience of living in the moment and we lose sight of our experience of choosing unconditional love.
When we see our own magnificence and love ourselves unconditionally, our pain and depression dissipate and our minds become clear enough to experience compassion, without which there is no environment for forgiveness. Every issue and belief that controls us can’t be worked through to completion without choosing forgiveness.
It’s easy to blame someone else for things that bother us, and sometimes it’s more comfortable to blame ourselves. Either way, this is not a responsible process for living. This is a formula for being victim or martyr.
For many years, there were two principles that ruled my unconscious thinking. “You did it to me” and “Aren’t I wonderful for doing this for you”? In so doing, I set myself up to fail. I was hurt and angry and I suffered from a false sense of fear. My ego was either inflated or deflated. And, I always found reasons for everything.
The more I judged, the less forgiveness I had in my heart, and without forgiveness, the experience of compassion and gratitude were out of my reach. I was enslaved by my own unconscious thoughts. In order to set myself free, I had to first experience unconditional love so I could forgive everyone I was angry with, especially myself. It was that process of choosing to let go that set me free.
There is an exercise I did that powerfully helped me to overcome my anger and frustration.
Make a list of all the people you feel angry with, whether they are alive or not. Write each of them a letter expressing all your feelings, and don’t stop until you’ve emptied the well. Write down every upset you have with everyone on your list. Then, when you are complete, take all the letters and place them in a metal trash bin and burn them. As you watch them burn, let those angry feelings go and say out loud, “Thank you, I love you and I forgive you, and I love and forgive myself. Speaking the words out loud creates a sense of freedom for you, and it returns you to your own true Self, the part of you that knows how magnificent you are and loves unconditionally with compassion.
After truly loving our Selves, forgiveness is ultimately the key to self awareness, creative consciousness, true responsibility and our “okayness” without unnecessary consequences. I discovered forgiveness is the key that trumps the mind and allows the Self to Be.
Be willing to let go of your pride and apologize when it’s appropriate. Apology and forgiveness go hand in hand. It takes courage to be accountable for our actions.
Forgiveness is not something we do once and forget about. It’s a process that must be practiced every time an unforgiving thought is present.
I say to myself, “Thank you for sharing, I forgive you, I forgive myself”, and I am forgiven.
As we continue to Be loving and forgiving with nothing attached, it is reflected back when we are in service of others. I can now see the world as a reflection of how I see my Self with love appreciation and forgiveness.
I choose to forgive, not for others, but for me. It’s a choice that keeps me focused in each moment of now as every day passes until the day I will die and I believe beyond.
