“Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” – Samuel Smiles
Message of the Day
In today’s meditation, we explore the role of hope in the healing process of forgiveness. We learn that blame, judgment, and resentment are based on false perceptions of our ego and do not come from our true self. When we begin to see things from the place of present awareness, we dispel the illusion that our core being could ever be hurt, disrespected, or vulnerable. Living in the present moment is living with that clarity of hope, and in that state we automatically forgive ourselves for the misunderstanding and hurt feelings associated with it.
CENTERING THOUGHT
Every day I move toward forgiveness.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Om Sarvatva Namah (The wholeness of the universe is my true nature.)
Reflection Journal Questions
- Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been different. To start the process of forgiveness, write down the names of anyone you find it hard to forgive. Now without struggling to let go of your grievance, describe partial things you can let go of today. For example, money you are owed, turning the other person into somebody totally bad, things the person did to someone else besides you, hard feelings that are worn out and tired, etc.
- Next, with this person or someone else you’d like to forgive, write down two or three difficult memories that still bother you. For each one, visualize the memory, then ask it to fade away. Breathe deeply and feel the pain of the memory dissipate. Watch as you see the image fade to nothing. Now describe how you feel in your mind and body afterward. Do you feel lighter? More open and loving?
- The third step in the process of forgiveness is to make a fresh start. With someone you’d like to forgive, journal about a situation where you can interact in a fresh way, such as going out for lunch, buying them a gift, writing a friendly greeting card. Start with small things before you work up to an interaction that might bring up the past.
- Reflect further on your experience today.