I’ve had a book on my shelf for a little while now that I really need to read. It is called “The Law of Forgiveness” and it is written by Connie Domino, who teaches public health nursing at University of North Carolina and spreads her wisdom about human relationships through educational lectures, life coaching, and educational counseling. As I start 2010 with a positive outlook and a set of personal goals that will help me to be the best person I can be, I realize that forgiveness is an important element that could play a strong role in reaching my goals.
Forgiveness is a heavy and difficult subject that should be incorporated into your life in a positive way. As emotional and stubborn people, we hold onto anger and resentment for years. We allow old pain to have a large and negative role in our lives as long as we keep ourselves from truly forgiving and moving on. Forgiving can free us from the past and contribute to the possibility of happiness in the future!
Connie suggests a list of ten people who you need to forgive now:
- parents
- spouses/significant others
- siblings and other relatives
- friends
- supervisor/boss
- coworkers
- government/public agencies/organizations
- god/higher power/religion
- yourself
When workshop participants asked Connie who, how, and when to forgive, she replied with this useful piece of advice:
You should forgive anyone you feel or anger or resentment for from the sandbox up until today. You do not need to contact anyone. You can forgive right in the privacy of your own home.
I like this statement from Connie because it reminds us that forgiveness is about you and not someone else. Forgiveness is not something that you cast out to another person and allow them to decide whether or not they would like to accept it. Forgiveness involves something personal within you that represents moving away from bad feelings in order to welcome good feelings.
Forgiveness is important because you have the ability to control it. You don’t need to rely on anyone else’s opinion, behavior, personality, or emotional availability in order to forgive. You can find out more about the positive role that forgiveness can play in your life in Connie’s book “The Law of Forgiveness“.
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Post from: Blisstree