Forgiveness
                             7/14/09
                                


     Forgiveness is the single most thing that has transformed my
life. Forgiving ones transgressors has made the biggest
difference for me and living my life fully. Forgiveness only
benefits the person doing the forgiving. It gives you the ability
to expand your heart and open a new awareness of your being that
seems to be shut off and not accessible. Living with or denying
resentments, old grudges, bitterness, hatred and thoughts of
revenge deep within your heart just becomes a part of your being.
You bring it to every relationship you have and it no longer
lives like there is something to uncover. It’s a part of us we
don’t feel or know anymore. It’s a numbness and when it raises
its head, it comes out in forceful and dominating ways, but what
it is covering is the fear, the fear that if I let my guard down
it may happen again. Forgiveness is not forgetting…it’s a freedom
for the person forgiving. Your heart expands and the love grows.
The hatred, backbiting and discord will settle down. You no
longer have the “short hair’s” stand up when that person’s name
is mentioned, and you no longer are jolted when you see that
person. But the largest benefit from forgiveness is the lightness
of your heart, the expansion of your being. You actually give
yourself a gift. A lifting up of old patterns of your way of
being, the way you’ve moved in the world will shift. You’ll
become lighter and a wave of warm happiness that comes from
within permeates your being in a different way than you’ve felt
before.

In my experience, once I forgave I was no longer the victim and
the person or act no longer had that hold on me, I also forgave
myself.  I AM responsible for my life and the power I gave away.
The circumstances no longer run the show and I have no need to
enroll others in my story or my point of view, it disappeared.
I’m not drawn to have lunch dates with those whom I considered my
aggressors, but I wish them no harm and they have no effects on
my being. I love many of them and have compassion for them, but
most importantly, I no longer replay those events in my mind
where I was wronged, the attachment has been released, openness
has replaced that spot within and there is a new flow of love
energy and compassion. Forgiveness is very healing on many
levels, mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

As I write this, I’m thinking…..does this happen overnight, it
might, but can be very difficult too. It requires work on your
part, a commitment for change and really looking within asking
the hard questions and seeing the negative effects that holding
on to resentments and bitterness has had on your relationships,
your health and your wellbeing. You will lose more by not
forgiving than when you forgive yourself and others.

Good luck, and if you feel inclined to pass this on please do so.
Blessed Be,                                   By Pamela Panneton