photo by axinia

I wrote about my first powerful weapon several times, for example here and here. It is the power of innocence. The power of a child in a person. This power lays in the base of a human being as a “childness”, manifested through innocence, wisdom, spontaneity and living in the present. In a daily life full of competition and performance pressure I naturally use this quality to act according to my own principles and - actually - for the benevolence of everyone around. That makes my life very easy and enjoyable in every moment. But there is another trick that makes my life even more comfortable and colourful. In my way I would call it my second secret weapon - the power of forgiving.

Since the message of forgiving was given by Jesus Christ two millennia ago, not much has happened in the human awareness in that direction. Luckily recently the word “forgiving ” is getting some shape in the modern human minds. After 2000 years! Better later than never, indeed.

Amazingly, people find it extremely difficult to forgive. I remember one Christian (!) lady proudly told me ” there are things in life one CAN NOT forgive!” - interesting, isn´t it?  Let`s see how it works and why forgiving is actually a very easy thing.

1. Someone`s ego is hurt. EGO, not heart. The heart can not be hurt,never belive that statement: “oh, it hurt my heart” - normally it is the ego`s expectations that were hurt, nothing else.

2. That someone starts thinking about the situation, getting angry with the person who “has hurt”… Thinking days after days, may be years… Discussing it with everyone around, gossiping etc… Some typical thoughts: I was hurt so much: how could you ever expect me to forgive and forget that. OR: I never forgive, I just get even. Or:Revenge is the best way to heal wounds. Or: I have done nothing for which I have to be forgiven.

3. The most fascinating thing is that while having all these thoughts the person thinks he/she is paying back to “the evil one”. But the “offender” often has no idea and has a nice life. In fact, the non-forgiver punishes himself/herself with these thoughts. Headaches are often the results o such thoughts!

4. At the moment when the poor thing finally says” I forgive” the whole situation dissolves and he/she can live happily ever after Why? The act of forgiving is so powerful that it sets a huge amount of energy (which is normally wasted on the thinking about the offender) free. One can live the life fully!

I call forgiving a weapon because it always meets its target- the Mr. Ego. Like a pin that bursts a balloon.

 P.S. Interesting site on forgiving: A Campaign for Forgiveness Research funded 46 innovative research projects on the effects of forgiveness.

 LOVE, axinia