WomanSavers.com Forum / ASK RANDI - MS. "IVE GOT CLAWS" - WOMENS SELF-EMPOWERMENT EXPERT / Find Peace: Practice Forgiveness

The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.
-Thich Nhat Hanh


The act of forgiveness is one of the most personal, intimate experiences a person can have. It is one thing to simply say that you accept an apology and then suppress all the thoughts and feelings that surround the event. It‘s another thing when the apology never comes and you reconcile with yourself and say you have long since forgotten about the situation, person or event.

Part of being Happy, Healthy and Fit requires you to forgive anyone and everyone that has ever harmed you in anyway. Often times, we have buried these hurts so deep, we think they do not exist. In reality, they are festering beneath the surface, blocking true peace.

Close to six months ago, a very wise friend suggested that I spend some time in the cemetary and forgive all those who I needed to forgive. I must admit this was an interesting process and I highly recommend it. It was fairly easy to come up with some obvious people, like my parents, the people that had ripped me off in business and even the people who had posed as friends for their own personal gain. I thought my acts of forgiveness were done; little did I know they had just begun.

Yesterday, as I was walking into a Festival in Old Town Scottsdale, I realized that the man working security at the gate had at one time been a client of mine. Bob was a tremendous student of Kung Fu. He was an enthusiast, bought all the merchandise, attended seminars and brought friends to take class. When the going was good, it was good.

Along the way, Bob became offended when he couldn‘t advance as quickly as he would like. He left and took a following of my other clients to a competitor. As a business owner, this translated into financial devastation. This was 3 years ago. Less than one week after closing my martial arts school, I ran into Bob and in my heart I was able to forgive him. I didn‘t even have to say it. Bob couldn‘t look at me. I told him he looked great and that I barely recognized him with his new confidence. I gave him a hug. He actually said, "Randi, I want to thank you for everything you gave me."

I didn‘t need to see Bob to forgive him. He just served to remind me that maybe I was hanging on to some extra stuff I no longer need. Forgiveness is personal and intimate. Practice Forgiveness and Find Peace.

 

How have you learned to let go and set yourself free?