The Power of Forgiving

I agree with Greybeard in that I'm not sure I agree with there being a conscious "process" we can do to work towards forgiveness....and I also agree that forgiveness usually happens spontaneously, when the time is right. When I split with my ex, I spent several months carrying a lot of bitterness and negative feelings towards him. Then, one day, I realized that I was ready and able to "forgive" what had happened between us, and move forward.
I think the process of forgiveness is truly a subconscious journey.
Right now I am in another situation where I have been hurt and betrayed by someone I had considered a friend for many years. Maybe down the road, the forgiveness will come...but I am not going to try to "talk myself into" that forgiveness....it will have to come on its own.
I also completely agree that forgiveness does not mean letting that person back into your life - it's like the old saying:
"Fool me once- shame on you. Fool me twice- shame on me."

[Xan]

Yes, there comes a right time when forgiving is complete.

Yet, when we see that forgiving can also be a process of letting go, often that comes little by little, and we can choose it.


Xan

...I guess it's about time to forgive. I've never had to truly practice it before . I'm ready to forgive now because the thoughts and dreams of him are more intense and frequent than ever. I'll take it as a sign

[Xan]

Yes... it sounds like time for that step, Aset.


Xan

Love this... So true. Forgiveness is a gift we give to ourselves.. We are the only prisoners when we do not forgive. Forgiveness is something we do for ourselves.

First of all, thankyou xan..forgiveness is so important.

The act of forgiving, for me became easy, or should i say easier, when i had

the realisation that everyone, including myself, at any given time is doing

their best, regardless of whether our acts be good or bad, positive or

negative.


Now i don't have too like what people did or did not do....it just makes it

easier to forgive if i know that we are always doing our best.

So i'm cutting my brothers and sisters some slack, as we are always doing our

best, even though it may sometimes be our worst...cheers

amen..

thank you for sharing this. i will use this to forgive others.
and start my process of becoming a better ME. in my heart. soul mind. and inner beauty.

takin it one step at a time. :]

[Xan]

it just makes it

easier to forgive if i know that we are always doing our best.


I agree. If someone's best is really bad for me and them, it calls for compassion.


Xan

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sesheta

I agree with Greybeard in that I'm not sure I agree with there being a conscious "process" we can do to work towards forgiveness....and I also agree that forgiveness usually happens spontaneously, when the time is right. When I split with my ex, I spent several months carrying a lot of bitterness and negative feelings towards him. Then, one day, I realized that I was ready and able to "forgive" what had happened between us, and move forward.
I think the process of forgiveness is truly a subconscious journey.
Right now I am in another situation where I have been hurt and betrayed by someone I had considered a friend for many years. Maybe down the road, the forgiveness will come...but I am not going to try to "talk myself into" that forgiveness....it will have to come on its own.
I also completely agree that forgiveness does not mean letting that person back into your life - it's like the old saying:
"Fool me once- shame on you. Fool me twice- shame on me."

I like this one.

[Xan]

"Forgiveness is a stream of love which washes away all impurities wherever it flows. By keeping this spring of love, which is in the heart of man, running, man is able to forgive, however great the fault of his fellow man may seem.

"One who cannot forgive closes his heart. The sign of spirituality is that there is nothing you cannot forgive, there is no fault you cannot forget."


- Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan