Forgiveness is the ultimate release; the greatest gift you can give yourself and others. By forgiving and releasing any negative energy, you transform judgment into acceptance and make the past powerless over your life. It brings you fully into the present moment, free of anything that holds you back from living a soul-hearted life.
Ultimately, there is no hurt that cannot be transformed by forgiveness. Above all, the more you forgive yourself the easier it is to forgive others. To forgive takes an open heart, loving-compassion, and a healthy detachment from any outcome. The greater outcome is that forgiveness severs the flow of negative energy toward yourself or others so that positive energy is returned to you, creating space in your heart to love and be loved.
Forgiveness, as a spiritual practice, is an act of love. You can focus your energy through your heart center and bless and release anyone or anything that does not align with who you truly are. The heart becomes an energetic clearinghouse that transforms grievance and resentment into love and compassion, and dissolves any emotional injury attached to a person or situation.
You can make forgiveness a daily practice. Through this daily practice, you can heal and grow spiritually. Like the fresh vegetation that emerges from the ashes of a forest fire, you can create yourself anew each time you release an old grievance, resentment, or past hurt.
Here are five ways to facilitate forgiveness:
- Create a sacred ritual of release: Possible rituals may include a private prayer service; the burning of items related to a specific person or situation, the creation of a picture scrapbook or journal for release, or the designing of a collage that reflects your future intentions.
- Be forgiving of your mistakes and imperfections. When you react negatively to situations, bless yourself, and release blame, resentment, and judgment. Coach yourself by using supportive self-talk to clear negative thoughts and reactions, replacing them with encouraging phrases such as “Open and let go,” and “Let it be.”
- Let go of past grievances and grudges. Consciously refrain from bringing up a friend’s or partner’s past mistakes when interacting with them in the present.
- Pink light exercise: When you want to forgive yourself or someone else, imagine the yours’ or person’s processes in pink light (such as pink bubbles, pink clouds, or pink cotton candy) while at the same time visualizing yourself and the other person bathed in radiant white light. This practice seals the physical negativity away from you because the vibration of pink light governs the physical universe.
- Journal questions to facilitate forgiveness: With whom in your life do you have “unfinished business? What questions arise for you about this person or situation? What unhealed aspects of yourself do they show you? How can you forgive those in your life who have hurt you, intentionally or unintentionally?
To release your unhealed pain, you must find the courage to forgive yourself, the strength to suspend judgment, and the compassion to release your suffering.
I love your pink light exercise!
Forgiveness (of others and Self) is the grandest, and most loving, gift I give myself. It sets me free from the anger, resentment and other undesired emotions. I don’t understand those who insist on carrying that self-created mental trap around like a prized possession.
Thank you for sharing your pearls of wisdom and exercises to live a healthier life, Debra.
Forgiveness does set us free. I agree it is a daily practice not a one stop destination. Thank you for your tips and wisdom Debra! Many Blessings, Lisa xx
I really like your 5 ways of forgiveness Debra, most especially the pink light one! Thank you for sharing your wisdom on this topic!
I sincerely feel that your post today was written especially to give me some comfort, Debra.
Exactly 19 years ago today, I lost my beloved miniature dachshund April due to hemorrhaged lungs brought on by the wrongful administration of Nimuselide by a vet who was stepping in while the regular vet was away.
It wasn’t as if I took it lying down and the vet went to jail for 3 months after I lodged a complaint at the Consumer Protection Court. It was a landmark case (nobody had ever taken a vet to task for killing an animal) which I won and it formed a basis for changing the law to make death by negligence admissible in a court of law . Took me a whole 2 years but I attended each court hearing.
Yet……
My day has been spent in prayer and tapping to forgive the vet and myself for any error I might have made and gratitude for my Miss Coco. I’m going to try the pink bubble exercise.
I live by Louise Hay’s affirmation: I forgive, and I set myself free.” Works every time!
Without forgiveness our life will not be filled with peace and harmony. Forgiveness truly sets us free! Pink light is a wonderful tool to use, as are all your 5 ways to facilitate forgiveness. 🙂
Without forgiveness there can be no joy. I started a monthly release ritual, where I make a list of all the things I release and let go off, and then burn the list, I love the extra release power of fire.
Beautifully said, Debra! Forgiveness is such an integral part of healing, and it truly is an act of love, especially for ourselves. Love your forgiveness exercises!
I love this blog Debra and your wisdom that, “You can focus your energy through your heart center and bless and release anyone or anything that does not align with who you truly are. The heart becomes an energetic clearinghouse that transforms grievance and resentment into love and compassion, and dissolves any emotional injury attached to a person or situation.” It is so beautiful and I am going to use your empowering tools – thank you so much!
Thank you for the reminder of the pink light. I tend to use the rose quartz crystal as it vibrates love. It is very healing in many ways, especially when you are doing self work.