Episode 3: How to Practice Forgiveness for Yourself and Others

Discover the power of forgiveness with this transformative episode. Whether you're struggling to let go of self-judgment or harboring resentment toward someone else, this practice offers a gentle path to peace. Learn a simple, effective tool to release anger, embrace compassion, and free yourself from the weight of unresolved hurt. Join us as we explore the healing mantra, “I forgive you for not understanding,” and feel the shift within your mind, body, and soul. Ready to reclaim your inner peace? Tune in now.

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Transcript

Brian Plachta: 0:01

Hello. Thanks for taking some time for yourself to gain some spiritual tools to put into your toolbox to live your life with deeper peace, balance, wholeness, compassion. Today let's take a look at the concept of forgiveness. Forgiving ourselves and forgiving others is probably one of the hardest parts of our spiritual journey. It's hard to forgive ourselves when we fall short of our expectations. It's hard to forgive other people who offend us, who hurt us. Yet there's opportunities to grow when we find the tools we need to overcome that grumbling anger, that frustration seethe within us like a teapot that wants to boil over. One of the easy tools you can use whenever you need to forgive yourself and forgive others is this. Find a quiet spot where you can be alone for a few moments. Close your eyes. Take a couple of deep cleansing breaths to just allow the breath, the Spirit of God to flow within you. Put a little smile on your face. And then bring to mind something that you need to forgive yourself for. Just name it with compassion. It could be that you lost your temper with somebody, that you failed at a project you're working on. Whatever it is that comes to mind about yourself that you'd like to forgive. or need to forgive. Just gently bring it to mind. And then whisper softly to yourself, I forgive myself for not understanding. I forgive myself for not understanding. Let those words flow within you as a healing mantra. Allow the words to bathe your body with peace, compassion. Notice in your body, as you whisper those words, where in your body do you notice the felt sense of your desire to forgive yourself? Where do you notice in your body that sense of forgiveness? forgiveness for yourself within you. You might feel it in your stomach as a gentle ripple of compassion. You might feel a sense of release within your body where you let go of the tension of judging yourself. You might feel it as a flow of energy, a flow of love in your heart space. Allow yourself to feel in your body the felt sense of your desire to forgive yourself for not understanding. Next, bring to mind someone that's offended you, someone that's hurt you. In your imagination, see their face and then In your heart, whisper these words. I forgive you for not understanding. I forgive you for not understanding. Notice in your body the felt sense of your desire to forgive that person. Even if you don't want to forgive them, that's okay. Just notice what the desire To forgive that person feels like within you. Let that desire to forgive this person flow within you. You might notice a sense of freedom within your body, a letting go, perhaps a calm, a gentle peace in your heart, perhaps in your shoulders as they release the frustration with that person and desire to forgive them for not understanding. If your mind wants to get back into the details about how the person or how you offended yourself, don't go there. That's called the rabbit hole. Don't go down the rabbit hole and try to figure out the details again or try to change the circumstances or Try to figure it out. Just come back gently to the spirit of forgiveness within you with those gentle words, I forgive you for not understanding. You can use this simple tool during your meditation time and throughout the day whenever you notice yourself needing to forgive yourself. And when you notice yourself angry and frustrated at someone that's offended you, instead of going down the rabbit hole, use this simple practice. Close your eyes. Bring a smile to your face to release the calming endorphins from your brain. And then offer yourself, or the other the simple mantra, I forgive you for not understanding. Let the felt sense of your desire to forgive yourself, to forgive others, bathe you in loving kindness and free you from the judgments that we all hold against ourselves and others. May this Spiritual tool provide you with what you need to return to your natural state of love, peace, and joy.