Day 30 – Meditation on Forgiveness

Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts of life. It enables us to let go of the past. Sometimes it comes from nowhere, spontaneously, or it comes with time, but it can also be developed. We can systematically cultivate forgiveness with practice. Forgiveness doesn’t justify or condone harmful actions. When you forgive you should resolve to never let the act or behavior that you’re forgiving happen again. You don’t have to seek out or even talk to those who have done you harm. It’s just simply an act of the heart, a letting go of the pain, resentment or rage that you’ve carried as a burden. For most people forgiveness is a process. It can take years, but it’s fundamentally for your own sake. This is an exercise in asking for and extending forgiveness.

“Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness. Attack thoughts towards others are attack thoughts towards ourselves.” ~Marianne Williamson