No matter what
your goals-whether you yearn to feel free, become empowered, lose weight, be
more loving or break a sugar habit-you may not be able to move forward or
succeed until you forgive your loved ones, friends, yourself or even strangers
who harmed and wronged you, whether deliberately or unintentionally.
As I can
personally attest, when you feel forgiveness in your heart, it’s easier to be
happy, productive, accomplish your goals and be at peace with yourself. You see,
absolving and pardoning another is really less about other people and more about
being true, kind and respectful of ourselves. Likewise, humbly and remorsefully
atoning for our sins and transgressions against others is a way to give
ourselves the esteem and value we deserve.
Not forgiving
someone else and not repenting for the wrongs you've committed can:
Rob you of your power and strip you of your dignity.
Keep you trapped in anger, indignation and resentment.
Make you feel helpless, stuck and frustrated.
Harm you physically or emotionally.
Stop you from enjoying relationships or reveling in your accomplishments.
On the other
hand, forgiving others or asking for forgiveness can:
Free, heal, nurture and release you.
Fill you with lightness, compassion and good will.
Ennoble, empower and enliven you.
Bring you closer to God or goodness.
Refresh, reward and renew you.
I now invite
you to try out 7 easy steps that I developed, which spell out the word
“Forgive.”
F — Face the facts.
Own up to the reality that you need to
forgive another person or yourself. If you don’t accept that you’re stuck in
a bitter, unforgiving, intolerant quicksand, you’ll never get out of your
rut to live a sweet, fulfilling, enriching life.
O — Oust the anger.
Even if you feel that the other person’s offenses are real and your anger is
justified, you should resolve to shed your fury, resentment and bitterness.
R — Remember the offenses.
Recall the harms inflicted on you. Mind you, I’m not suggesting that you
wallow or stew in self pity. Instead, I'm recommending that you take some
paper and recount all or your or another’s transgressions. State: "I fully
and freely forgive _____________ (person’s name) for ______________ (spell
out what the person did). Your list could go on and on, but always make sure
to "fully and freely forgive" first. Now read your list out loud several
times. Then take a match to it and burn it in the sink. (This is very
freeing, but please be careful not to start a fire or hurt yourself!) Repeat
this process, if desired.
G — Give the benefit of the doubt.
Realize that, in most instances, the
person(s) who harmed you was probably being either selfish or self-involved
and was not out to hurt you. But if she or he had underlying, callous,
unkind thoughts, then shower that person with pity, kindness and empathy.
Looking at these “sinners”-or even yourself-with this kind of compassion and
understanding can help to release you.
I — Imagine what forgiveness feels like.
Now visualize yourself breaking
free with forgiveness. Pray to God for forgiveness, too, if you wish. Then
create and repeat forgiveness affirmations or mantras in front of the
mirror. One such forgiveness affirmation could be: "I fully and freely
forgive ______________ (person’s name), and I am now released. Harmony,
peace and good will reign supreme between ______________ (person’s name) and
me."
V — Value the experience.
Realize that
forgiveness can be powerful and effective-perhaps
as important as eating nourishing foods, exercising and believing in
yourself. Acknowledge that letting go of your acrimony, animosity and
antagonism can totally transform and improve your life.
E — Embrace forgiveness.
Approaching another to apologize completes your 7-step process and helps you
to achieve a joyous, merciful frame of mind. (If the person is no longer on
this earth, imagine yourself humbly asking forgiveness and the other person
pardoning you.)
I hope that
simply reading these easy 7 steps to “FORGIVE” will begin to ennoble, educate
and empower you. Now, I invite you to begin pardoning those folks who’ve
affronted you. Remember, by forgiving someone, you'll free up space in your
heart and being for more wonderful things to arrive.
About the
Author:
Connie
Bennett, M.S.J., C.H.H.C. is author of SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Books). She is a
speaker, frequent TV and radio show guest (“CBS News Sunday Morning,” “Oprah &
Friends Radio,” etc.), and a certified holistic health counselor. She runs the
SUGAR SHOCK! Blog (www.SugarShockBlog.com);
hosts the Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Radio Show; and offers a Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Inner
Circle Membership Program. Connie has been widely published (The Los Angeles
Times, TV Guide, eDiets.com, etc.) To learn if you’ve been brainwashed to become
a sugar addict, take the SUGAR SHOCK! Quiz at www.SugarShockBlog.com.
