The act of forgiveness is the act of returning to present time.
And that's why when one has become a forgiving person,
and has managed to let go of the past,
what they've really done is they've shifted their relationship with time.
~ Caroline Myss ~
And that's why when one has become a forgiving person,
and has managed to let go of the past,
what they've really done is they've shifted their relationship with time.
~ Caroline Myss ~
I once heard forgiveness defined as the letting to of the desire to see another person suffer. When someone has wronged us, we naturally want them to pay for what they have done.... some retribution of sorts. The inability to forgive, however, is desiring to see that person pay that retribution over, and over, and over again. Until we completely let go of that desire, we have not truly forgiven. This is one of the most difficult feats of humanity, and even harder than forgiving others is the act of forgiving one's self.
I did something to hurt someone that I really care about (and no, for once I DON'T want to discuss it). We've discussed it a few times and I always remind him that I'm sorry for what happened, but can't go back and change the past and bottom line that there's nothing I can do or say about it to make it better and that all I can do is move forward. I think this has been misinterpreted as a lack of remorse or some sort of after the fact justification..... not at all. I am really sorry about the situation, and I am saddened by how it changed things, but I've also accepted that I must live in the present and I must forgive myself. I can't continue to beat myself up over something I cannot change.
Living in the past and wishing you could go back and change things is pointless. Conversely, wishing another person can go back and change what they did is pointless, too. What you can change and control, however, is how you deal with the present moment. Forgiveness is a matter of not focusing on the past, but instead focusing on the present and the future.... a shift in a relationship with time. And true forgiveness is not reverting back to the past period.... you can't say you forgive a person and be okay with them 90% of the time, but have that 10% constantly hanging over their head. That 10% still leeches into the fibers of the relationship and taints it, and ultimately destroys it.
I know this is a challenge, loved ones, but think about someone who has wronged you and make an effort to let go of the hurt, bitterness, and desire for emotional retribution. Or better yet, think of something that YOU have done to hurt someone else that you are beating yourself up over, and make efforts to accept that what is done is done and forgive yourself.
Unforgiveness is the poison you drink every day
hoping that the other person will die.
~ Debbie Ford ~
hoping that the other person will die.
~ Debbie Ford ~
3 comments:
The worst is the 90/ 10% thing, where you kinda, sorta, almost forgive someone...but not really because even if you aren't outwardly hostile, your still angry/ hurt/ disappointed by the actions.
The oddest thing is, is sometimes, that person didn't even set out to hurt you...so you don't feel justified by being angry and yet you are.
But yes, there is nothing like forgiveness.
Your post is so true. I am an extremely forgiving person. God just did not create me to hold on to grudges. If I see that the person who has wronged me has changed, then I can move on and we can even be friends again. However, it is VERY hard for me to forgive a person who is still hurting me or trying to. That's the most powerful form of forgiveness! I'm just not there, yet and don't know if I'll ever get there.
Good POST! This is the hardest thing to do internally. Forgiving someone who you feel has done you so shady is the best thing you can do for yourself. But forgiving yourself is even harder than forgiving someone else. For now you have to accept and then try with all your might to move forward. Almost like forgetting it even happened. But thats the kicker...you will NEVER forget! So the real lesson is treat people RIGHT and LIVE RIGHT to the best of your ability...
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