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I
COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTENDER
A colleague and friend of mine, Otto Collins,
recently interviewed me on the topic of forgiveness. The interview is part
of a bonus offering to a wonderful book he and his wife Susie have just
released "How To Heal Your Broken Heart After a Relationship Break Up
or Divorce" http://www.HowToHealYourBrokenHeart.com
The interview was very exciting as forgiveness is a
cherished topic of mine. In my life I have found it is one of the most
powerful, grace filled actions a person can express.
Forgiveness sets us free. It frees us from old
wounds. It moves us out of experiencing life as a victim. And it releases
locked up energy so we open our hearts to the blessings that already are.
The blessings of love and goodness present in every moment.
When we withhold forgiveness - we get stuck in the
past. If only things would have gone the way I wished, expected, wanted,
planned on them going, then my life would be different, better, I would be
happier. I could have been a contender.
But what about right now? This moment is where you
are. The past is gone. It is merely a thought, a memory, an illusion. Now
is where you live. What about right now?
To forgive is to be for giving - for the action of
giving - versus withholding. When we forgive we choose to give - and what
we give is love. First we give love to ourselves, to the part of us that
is hurting. We heal our own hurt by loving ourselves, and in doing so
begin the forgiveness process.
Once we begin to apply the soothing balm of
forgiveness onto our wounds our hearts begin to soften and open once
again. We are able to see our world from a new vantage point and perhaps
learn from the experience that we felt wronged or hurt by.
Wisdom comes from making sense of our wounds.
Forgiveness opens the door to the blessing of wisdom, of gratitude, and of
grace. Even when 'bad things happen to good people' there are gifts to be
uncovered.
Are you willing to be a contender right now? Are you
willing to forgive the past and open yourself up to your loving potential
right now?
Give yourself a gift and let go of any resentments,
guilts, disappointments, withholds you have been carrying, and open to the
bounty of goodness that is present right now. Become a contender in the
game of Love.
QUOTES
"Healing is the application of loving to the
place that hurts."
~ Ron Hulnick ~
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but
it does enlarge the future."
~ Paul Boese ~
SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT
I am writing a book on forgiveness. If you' would
like to contribute you can do one or both of two things:
- ask me any questions you might have about
forgiveness, what is it, how to do it, why do it....
- send me any story you may have about how
forgiveness, forgiving yourself or another has changed your life, even
in small ways.
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
- As you move forward in your week, notice if any
person or situation triggers 'upset' in you...
- Remember, there is no I'm upset because anything.
You are upset - period.
- Look at your upset and notice if you are
withholding from yourself or another.
- If so, ask if you would be willing to open in
love and give to yourself the gift of forgiveness.
WONDER QUESTIONS:
- How has choosing not to forgive kept you from
living fully in the present?
- What benefits to your well-being can you imagine
if you were to let go of your hurt, anger, resentments and open to
love?
- Are you willing to forgive?
QUICK LINKS:
COPYRIGHT/CONTACT INFO/REPRINT PERMISSION
Copyright 2005 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
Visit this link for contact information:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:
Copyright 2005 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved.
Web site. http://www.living-bydesign.com
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