Forgiveness as an act of self-love w/ host Melissa D. Barry

Desmond Tutu, human right activist shared that “Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.” while Mahatma Gandhi, non-violent leader used to say: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

This month we’re taking a break from the brain to dive into the heart instead. Taking advantage of this new moon right now to clean the slates and start anew stronger than ever but in order to move on healthily and efficiently forgiveness is key.

What is forgiveness?

The best definition I found is from the - Greater Good magazine published by the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) at the University of California, Berkeley, it says the following:

“Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.”

To me, forgiveness is an essential part of your growth, it’s about giving that grace to yourself by letting go of a past painful experiences. Freeing yourself from the poison of anger, bitterness, resentment, and any other low vibration feelings. It’s about reflecting on your past, yourself, and the others you need to forgive. Living consciously is also about looking at things, people and situations from a higher perspective. It’s accepting that ourselves, relationships and events are just like life - full of ups and downs as well as endings.

In resonance to the previous episode of this podcast: “Freedom from within” forgiveness relieves us from feelings that are not serving our highest good, it frees ourselves and greatly participates in our self-empowerment journey since we are not letting past events or other people who did us wrong or made us feel a certain way that was unpleasant control the way you now feel - mess with the way we now act and interact with ourself and others who have nothing to do with previous situations. Forgiveness allows us to drop the old baggage, leave the past in the past and move forward in our lives.

From the same source mentioned earlier. The personal benefits of forgiveness encompasses: becoming happier, a better health and wellbeing, greater improvements in overcoming depression and anxiety, being protected from the negative health effects of stress (anger, grudges, revenge rise our blood pressure and stress levels), it also gives boosts of kindness and connectedness, as well as stronger and more satisfying relationships. I mean what can get better than that? Who doesn’t want that?

Forgiveness is what we’ll explore today.

Listen up to this gem!

Namaste listeners.