The Power of Forgiveness

The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.  Forgiveness is a full time job, and sometimes very difficult.  It is the world’s one real chance to begin again.  A Return to Love - Marianne Williamson.

Forgiveness is powerful.  I was raised in a family where forgiveness was not the norm, my mother’s family held onto grudges, and situations for many many years.  Lacking awareness on how powerful forgiveness can be, this lead to lifetime resentment, division, and bitterness. 

The simple act of forgiveness can relieve the physical body of many ailments, and it can prevent future disease. There is power in being in the present moment.  It is the key to inner peace.  One step toward personal fulfillment.

According to Abigail Brenner, M.D., finding forgiveness is an essential thing to do, for your own well-being and for your future health and sanity.  She describes five reasons why forgiveness is important:

• When you forgive someone, you forgive yourself

• Forgiving sets you out of the victim mode

• Forgiveness frees you

• Forgiveness helps your health

• Forgiveness helps you move forward on your spiritual path

Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.

— Desmond Tutu

Are you an empath?

I was shy and insecure as a child, and as an adult, I felt more comfort in one on one conversations. I rarely felt comfortable in large groups. The dynamics of large groups challenged me. I was sensitive and easily felt left out. Also, I recognized the first time I felt collective grief, when Princess Diana passed. I did not follow her closely, but was stricken by intense grief at the time. Merriam-Webster defines empath as “one who experiences the emotions of others, a person who has empathy for others.” If only I had heard the word empath earlier in my life, it would have saved me some grief. Does any of this resonate with you?

As part of my spiritual growth over the past several years this was one profound realization that changed my life. Awareness of something starts the incremental change in behavior. I also found myself transitioning out of relationships that were not helping me reach my potential.  

Dr. Judith Orloff author of The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People, https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-an-empath  states “empaths have a higher sensitivity to outside stimuli such as sounds, big personalities, and hectic environments. They bring a lot of heart and care to the world and feel things very deeply.”

A few of the common signs of being an empath include:

• Experience a lot of empathy

• Closeness and intimacy can overwhelm you

• Have good intuition

• Take comfort in nature

• Don’t feel well in crowded places

• Have a hard time not caring

• Have a sensitivity to sounds, smells or sensations

• Need ample time to recharge

• Resist conflict

• Often feel like you don’t fit in

• Tendency to isolate

• Have a hard time setting boundaries

Understanding the complexities of how we all relate and function in the world can make a major impact toward self improvement - self love and happiness. 

Joshua Tree National Park 2020

Achieve Your Goals in 2019

New Year’s is a good time for reflection.  I was fortunate to participate in a Winter Solstice yoga meditation retreat on Whidbey Island recently.  We had the opportunity to journal and reflect on intentions for 2019.  Last year, I created the practice of listing accomplishments for the previous year, including a list of what I desire for the upcoming year and I wrote this in a sketch book.  A sketch book is preferred for this exercise since you can be creative, and draw to your heart’s content. It’s a fun exercise to help solidify you goals.  
 
A few of my goals for 2019 include: 

• Practice mindfulness

• Love myself

• Slow down! 

• Live in the present moment

• Read more

• Find something positive in every situation

This is the start of my list and I still need to assess 2018's accomplishments!

I found an interesting article by Rachel from planningmindfully.com. The ‘19 for 2019’ is a goal setting exercise that provides information on how to select activities and behaviors to implement in 2019. The intention is to get you out of your comfort zone by trying new activities for the upcoming year.

Empowered by SimplyHealed™ can help you achieve your goals for 2019.  In one session I can help you reduce stress, eliminate self sabotage, deepen connections with yourself and others, and resolve conflicts.

​Please contact me today.  

​Have a joyous and prosperous New Year.