On Forgiveness - Why forgive?? [Beautifully explained]

November 9, 2008

Good Day Brothers and Sisters,

Its Sunday, 9th Nevember 2008

A beautifully written piece by Diane Soulae

on forgiveness from her newsletter (details provided)

that I am d to ...

Most people ask,

"How can I feel gratitude when (fill in the blank) has ruined my life?"Forgiving sometimes seems like an impossible challenge.

You may ask, "Why forgive?" Forgive for the same reason you stop to take a rock

from your shoe that is hurting you. Holding tight to your grievances is hurting your heart, your soul, yourbody and your mind. It is keeping you a prisoner of your past.Forgiving isn't reconciliation or condoning or accepting that what happened isOK with you. Forgiving doesn't mean staying with someone who abusesyou. It doesn't mean you should not take action to prevent harm frombeing done again to you or to someone else. Forgiving is letting go of hatred and bitterness and hurt and sadnessand guilt and anger and moving on. Why? Because you deserve a chance atpeace and happiness. And this is the price. Nothing is served bybitterness.Forgiveness is taking responsibility NOW for making your life as goodas it can be. There is nothing that can be done about the past.

Yourpower is right now, in this moment. Every small step toward peace withinyour heart is sacred. So how can we stop feeling victimized?

It is never too late to make a good life - a life worth living - regardless of the experiences we have had.Most of us are very attached to our wounds because we think they defineour identity. Without these old stories, who are we? More importantly,who might we choose to be? If you feel victimized by your past, find abigger story that gives your life value.My mother stayed with a man who abused her and her children. Shecommitted suicide when I was fifteen. The bigger story is that 35 years laterI wrote a book that will cause someone who is considering suicide tochoose life instead. (My book, Miriam's Promise, is available throughwww.amazon.com). This book will also cause someone who is living withabuse to get themselves and their children

to a safe place. That gives mymother's life and death meaning. It also gives my life meaning. This is an example of spiritual alchemy, finding value in the basestexperiences of life. Look for meaning that is larger than the events,meaning that reveals life purpose. Sometimes it takes years before we cansee the bigger story. Look for the gifts in your pain. How can you usethese gifts to give your life meaning? How can you share your giftswith others?What if your depression is a message from your soul to move towardpeace and things that give you joy? What if you knew you only had 24 hoursto live? What could you let go of? Do it now. Your freedom is waiting. In the next issue I will tell you about a simple, elegant, fast andpowerful way to release feelings you don't want.With wishes for your great peace and happiness!Your friend,Diana SoulaeMind/Body/Spirit Wellness

CoachInternational Teacher and SpeakerBest Selling Author

Swedish ProverbFear less, hope more; Whine less, breathe more;Talk less, say more;Hate less, love more;And all good things are yours. "I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul

by making me hate him."

Booker T. Washington"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

Your comments and feedbacks always welcome .. Rahul,

at the new ID Cybugle as well as at bruntno1

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