Forgiveness can be a challenging concept, because we often feel that forgiveness should be deserved. If someone hurts us, we often want an apology and a promise not to repeat the action before we feel willing to grant forgiveness.
But forgiveness isn’t just a salve for the wrong-doer. It can serve as a balm for us when we experience pain at the hands of another. Why? Because that unhealed pain can block positive feelings, behaviors, and outcomes in our future.
Unfortunately, the past cannot be changed, and most hurtful actions cannot be undone. But it is possible to discontinue generating negative energy toward the person who has committed the hurtful action. Here are some questions to consider:
- Who or what have you not yet forgiven?
- Why have you not granted forgiveness?
- Who does this refusal hurt the most?
- Are you willing to forgive and release the negative energy?
If the process of forgiveness still remains difficult, you may wish to process your thoughts and memories by writing a letter to one or more individuals who have caused you pain. This letter is for you to keep, and there is no need to give the letter to the individual you’re writing to.
Some ideas to include in your letter are:
- Observations of the wrong done
- Your feelings about this wrong
- Your understandings about why the person may have committed the wrong against you
- False beliefs that you learned based on this wrong-doing, and new beliefs that you now understand in the process of reviewing and forgiving it
- Any expressions of forgiveness, love, appreciation, gratitude, or other goodwill remaining toward the person
Once your memories, thoughts, and feelings are out on paper, there is no longer any need to keep them stored in your mind, muscles, and energy. The tension can be released, and your energy can be put to other uses that benefit your money and your life.
You may also feel that you have debts to yourself or to others, and it may lighten your emotional load to forgive yourself. Perhaps a letter to yourself will help, to allow you to understand the situation that caused you to act in a way of which you are not proud today.
These efforts can help you put your Money House to rights, to tidy it up, and make it orderly for your future benefit, by letting go of the faults and embracing relief and well-being.