I had an experience with forgiveness recently that made me realize that forgiveness is more complicated a process than I had realized.
Firstly we must ask for forgiveness. In order for that to happen we must think we have done something that requires forgiving. I always have a bit of an issue with blaming and find it so unproductive. Blaming someone (or the need to blame someone) means they are pushed very far away, deep down and labelled with a big sticker that says “Wrong”. It puts them in a place where the automatic reaction is to not even want to apologize. There is nothing welcoming about someone who needs to lay blame. Blame breeds resentment not forgiveness. Yet forgiveness is what so many of us seek. That subtle ability to give something back to lessen the blow and lick a wound sort of speak. I personally found I could not ask for forgiveness unless I had forgiven myself. Asking it of myself was even harder than asking it of another.
If we listen to Mr. Gandhi we will realize that learning to forgive ourselves is a sign of strength. After all how can we even think of forgiving others when we are unable to forgive ourselves? How can we accept forgiveness from another when we can not give it to ourselves? Let go of the blame and release it all to the universe. There is strength in letting go.
Namaste!
Bianca
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!