Monday, April 7, 2014

Life's Jigsaw - Forgiveness

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each little piece is an aspect of our journey through it. And when at last we find that last piece and fit it into place, we eventually see the meaning of this life.



UBC Day 7
The F Piece - Forgiveness

My belief is that we all come into this life to fulfil a soul purpose, to experience, enjoy and also to learn. As the Universe lines up events that lead to those aha moments, it also lines up events that provide us opportunities for soul learning.

So how do we recognise what our soul learnings are?  I guess the best way to do that is to look back on our lives and find a pattern.

So one of my learnings I am sure is Forgiveness. There have been so many events where I've had to learn to forgive. Forgiveness however is not an easy lesson to learn. But the lesson must be learned and the Universe will persist until it is. After so many times (I've lost count there are so many), your spirit grows weary and forgiveness just feels like the easier thing to do.

I've always thought about forgiveness as an action but about 3 months ago these words were planted in my brain..

 "Forgiveness is not an action, it is a state of being"

I interpret that to mean that we should live mindfully, constantly without grievance or vendetta or revenge and with the understanding that the actions of people are done for their own reasons.

This does not mean that we condone the action of the person nor does it mean that we have to be the best of pals again (though of course you can if you want to). It just means that we choose to let go and move on. We choose to not let the event or action affect us any more.  If we want to look at it from a purely selfish view, we do it for ourselves not for them.

Whenever I feel I'm being attacked I think of my ever loving, ever forgiving Divine Maker and I try to look at life from the view of my soul. Is it easy? No it's not and it takes a lot of practise and will power and self control.

But I've found that I am not as quick to react to situations as I was before and that helps me to stay calm. Of course being human there are times when I do feel hurt or wronged, but I can quickly move out of that rather than dwelling on it.

"Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting" 
~ William Arthur Ward


May your heart be warmed and your sting cooled.


Written for: A to Z Challenge and The Ultimate Blogging Challenge


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Warm Regards
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57 comments:

  1. I find it so hard to forgive...It's a bad thing I know but that's so hard for me...

    Random Thoughts Naba

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    1. It's taken me a long time Naba and it hasn't been an easy road. But after so many slaps when your spirit grows weary, you finally realise the worth of forgiveness.

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  2. This post is so poignant Suzy...forgiveness is more for us and our well being than the other person, isn't it? I remember reading a quote once that stuck with me "To hold on to resentment is to drink poison and expect the other person to die" Of course, by forgiving we are reducing our own burden.

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    1. Thanks :PB. That's a good quote. And yes it is for our well being more than the other person.

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  3. Forgiveness is worth the effort. After all, with one life to live, why would we want to feel miserable by harboring hurtful feelings that the person they are directed at is not even aware of? I love the quote Psych quoted - just about sums it up perfectly!

    Loving your series of words, Suzy!

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    1. Thanks Vidya. Glad you enjoying my posts. So agree - forgiveness is worth the effort.

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  4. I was not much of a forgiver, but now I've started learning and leaning that way !!

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    1. That's the best way to go Sreeja. thanks.

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  5. I completely agree with you Suzy.. forgiveness makes one feel so good. If only we realise it.

    Obsessivemom
    Amazing Authors

    A to Z Challenge, 2014/ UBC, April 2014

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    1. Thanks Tulika. forgiveness is liberating.

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  6. I agree, foregiveness is a state of mind. Sometimes you have to remind yourself to be there because otherwise you waste a lot of time dwelling on things that simply aren't worth it.

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    1. Very well said Christine. Thanks for dropping by.

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  7. Nicely put Suzy.. it's essential to move on.. I've found the power of the forgiveness letter is amazing. I had an incredible experience. I wrote a letter to my brother in law, burnt it and 4 days later a letter from him arrived. It was as if he had received the bits of my letter that I COULD have sent to him! It was amazing.
    Since then I've encouraged lots of friends and clients to do the same with equally amazing results!
    We do need to let go in some way or we never truly move forward happily.

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    1. Thanks Rosemary for sharing your experience. The universe took up on your intent and made things happen. Lovely. Stories like these only confirm my beliefs.

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  8. That's a great quote from William Arthur Ward! A very helpful reminder, and very timely for myself :) Thanks Suzy for another inspiring post!

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

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    1. Thanks Beloo. Glad you found it inspiring.

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  9. //It just means that we choose to let go and move on.// there you said it :) ... one of the many things to lead a peaceful life :D

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  10. It's so important to forgive. I know far too many people who have wasted their lives, holding horrible grudges!

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    1. Thanks Sophie. For a while I did the same until I learned how futile and useless that was.

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  11. Well said. It is always better to forgive and move on instead of letting the bitterness stew in one's mind.

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  12. Lovely. I have read many posts on forgiveness today. Forgive and forget, but never forget what it has taught you!! :)

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    1. Thanks Taleoftwotomatoes. So nicely put - never forget what it has taught you.

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  13. I believe we must forgive for our own mental peace. The resentment, the hurt, the negativity, it can pull you real down. So, it is better to put it all behind, learn from it and move on! Thanks for sharing an insightful and inspiring post, today, Suzy!

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    1. Thanks Shilpa. Glad you found it insightful and inspiring. When my posts can do that, it makes my writing all worthwhile.

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  14. Very motivating post. I loved it!!
    Suzy, I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award. Kindly read my post on this subject Congrats.

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    1. Thanks Usha that's so sweet. I feel honoured.

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  15. Another F for forgiveness! Well I agree that it is one element of life that we can never part with.

    Richa

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    1. Forgiveness is usually popular topic, hard one to follow though. Thanks Richa.

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  16. I agree with you and both the quotes....at the end of it...the peace of mind is totally worth it.

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  17. It's si hard to forgive....but it's also such an important skill to learn.

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    1. It is hard Peddlerofdreams, but once learned, it is liberating.

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  18. Amazing post! I just finished my F for forgiveness as well! Truly it makes a lot of difference when we learn to do it!

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  19. Another good post on forgiveness. We need to have more of this quality. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. To err is human, to forgive divine...I find forgiveness to be liberating and beneficial to all concerned.

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    1. Thanks Sulekha. Forgiveness is peaceful. Love your words.

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  21. Forgiveness can be hard with some people. I have found that over time I have been able to forgive and move on...but I simply am unable to go back. Great thought provoking post. ♥

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    1. Thanks Kathy. so true some things are just hard to forgive, but once done it feels good.

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  22. As I had mentioned in another post on forgiveness, the ease with which we forgive and forget depends on the degree of wrong done and the impact that wrong done has on our life. It's easy to forgive trivial mistakes. When lives are ruined and day to day life is impacted adversely, then how can one forget and forgive ?

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    1. Hi Prathima, eventually you do - I speak from experience. No use holding grudges. And forgetting doesn't mean you block out the event and erase it, it simply means that you don't allow it to affect you anymore.

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  23. I remember reading a meme a few days ago which said you may forgive people, you don't have to keep them close. :)

    As you said, it is essential to Let Go. For your own sake, not for anyone else. :)

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    1. Exactly Dagny - it's the best way to go for our own wellbeing.

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  24. I mentioned something similar in my post on B, last week. It is way more effort to carry around a heart with a grudge than the light one that forgives and moves on. You are right. Do not be the best of pals, if you choose not to, but do forgive.

    ~Shailaja

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    1. So true Shailaja. It is more effort to carry that - so much easier to let go.

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  25. Yes forgiveness is the best way to move forward... or else it may weigh us down in life...

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  26. Awesome. I think this is something everyone needs to be reminded about on a regular basis--especially in relation to forgiving oneself. It's so easy to get bogged down.

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    1. Thanks Crystal. Yes so true, we need to be reminded now and then. Glad you liked my post.

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  27. I forgive, not because they are worth it because I need some mental peace!

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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  28. forgiving is something i do easily but forgetting is the problem! u cant forgive completely if u cant forget. right?

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.com/
    a-z participant

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  29. forgiving is something i do easily but forgetting is the problem! u cant forgive completely if u cant forget. right?

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.com/
    a-z participant

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  30. I think Swathi you can forgive completely and not forget. Forget doesn't mean we erase the event it just means we don't let it affect us again.

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