Being your authentic Self means being able to forgive. But for many, forgiveness can seem like a scary task and not an idea that we want to entertain. Especially if we feel we’ve been wronged by another person.
There seems to be this unspoken and innate feeling that if we forgive someone it’s saying what they did was ok.
What does it mean to forgive?Screen Shot 2014-07-22 at 5.51.12 PM
What are you sacrificing by holding onto anger and hurt?
Oprah once said forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself.
When I first heard this I was in awe and shock! I had no idea that forgiving someone who had hurt me meant setting myself free. I always thought it meant saying ‘I’m ok with what you did. In fact, I’m so ok with it I want you to do it again’.
After recognizing that I had the power to let it go and come into my authentic Self I knew it was a gift I was willing to give myself. So, in my mind I started to say to the other person ‘I forgive you’. It’s not always necessary to vocalize this to the other person because this is about your freedom, remember?
I have to be honest and say it took some time to actually forgive the other person, but just by saying the words in my head over and over again, it sparked the onset of letting another piece of my authentic Self shine. The freedom that came from the feeling of forgiveness was so overwhelming that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t started this journey sooner.
I find that many hold so tightly onto being right, onto being angry, and the justification of not forgiving due to their own pain. It’s a shame because the exact opposite sits on the other end: freedom, happiness, joy, authenticity.
We weren’t put on this earth to suffer and when we choose the opposite of forgiveness we aren’t able to choose ourselves or our own authenticity. Instead we choose suffering and that’s no way to live. Is it?
Be curious and allow yourself to explore the option of forgiving someone that has hurt you. Remember it has nothing to do with them, but everything to do with you and your healing process. Let the limiting belief of what you think forgiveness means and allow your authentic self to shine. It may seem scary but trust that you can do it. I have every ounce of faith in you, that you can set yourself free of undue pain and allow your authenticity to move forward.
Go get ’em Tiger!! Sorry- I just had to add that in.
Calgary Canada Life Coach Arianne Moore-Armstrong, founder of Path of Tranquility Coaching for Women, helps clients worldwide. Arianne is also the founder of the Ultimate Belief Breakthrough Method™