Learn How To Forgive To Free Your Heart And Expand Your Soul
Learning how to forgive is the ultimate spiritual practice and one of the most challenging things we must face as we journey through life. It’s a process that grows our hearts and souls very deeply.
Life gives us many opportunities to forgive and ask ourselves, who do I choose to be in this situation and my life? Do I choose to be hardened and angry with a closed-off heart, or do I choose to be compassionate and loving?
The process of forgiveness enables us to transform toxic emotions concerning others and ourselves.
There are significant misunderstandings and confusion about what it means to forgive.
It doesn’t mean that others are not held accountable for their behaviour.
It means we take responsibility for releasing these experiences’ effects on our physical and emotional well-being.
We make forgiveness about our own peace of mind and not the other person.
The first and probably the most crucial step when we learn how to forgive others and ourselves is to make a choice—to decide whether we are ready to let go of holding onto the toxic feelings.
When we choose to forgive, we take a giant step in reclaiming our lives and releasing the energy around anger, resentment, and bitterness. I say choose because that’s what forgiveness is—a choice. People who remain in a state of anger and resentment are either not ready to make a choice or aren’t aware they have one to make.
It’s important to understand that forgiveness is a process that takes time. It often requires that we reaffirm our intention continually and regularly. We are also not saying what happened or how we were treated was acceptable. Instead, we are saying that we are ready to release the toxic hold that the anger and resentment have on us.
While the process of forgiveness often involves several steps that are by no means linear, it always begins with the intention or desire to forgive.
I have read several books about forgiveness and have engaged in many practices. Some processes include any number of steps, ranging from just a few up to twenty. Twenty steps seemed overwhelming, so I condensed everything I’d read and practiced into six steps.
As the foundation, I used the fourfold path described in The Book of Forgiving by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter, MPHO Tutu. I modified their process to meet my needs and blend a human and spiritual perspective on forgiveness.
The Tutus’ book includes many beautiful and powerful rituals and practices that support the process of forgiveness. Still, the idea that we “grant forgiveness” didn’t resonate with my spiritual views, so I modified them and came up with the following six steps:
The Six Steps of Forgiveness:
1. Share your story.
It’s important to openly and honestly share your unedited story with someone you trust. If you don’t feel you can do that with another person, writing it in your journal or a notebook that you can subsequently destroy or use in creating a releasing ritual is also effective.
2. Be mindful of your feelings.
You are allowing yourself to feel what you feel is essential for transforming your anger and resentment. We practice mindfulness to become aware of our feelings and create space for them without judgment.
3. Develop a 360-degree perspective.
During this process, we get curious about the other person’s perspective and story. We begin to cultivate empathy as we expand our view of the situation and see that this other person, like us, is human, imperfect, and may have acted out of hurt or pain in their own life.
4. Shift from victim consciousness to seeing the divine plan.
From a spiritual perspective, we realize that every experience in our life has been created as an opportunity for us to fulfill our soul’s purpose and for growth. From this perspective, people didn’t do things to us; these situations and people happened to us.
One of my favourite practices is an ancient Hawaiian Forgiveness practice called Ho’oponopono. You can learn more about it and be guided in practice HERE.
5. Create a new relationship or release it altogether.
Every relationship and person comes into our life for a reason. Sometimes we are meant to change the relationship, and other times we’re meant to release it.
6. Forgiveness practice.
Forgiveness and the transformation of feelings is a process that involves both an intellectual and an energetic shift.
Spending time in a formal meditation practice focused on forgiveness allows us to heal at a deeper level that includes the body, mind, and soul.
This process recognizes that while we are spiritual, we are also human beings. It provides a structure and process for forgiveness that begins with telling our story and feeling the hurt and pain that the person or situation triggered in us.
If we jump too quickly to develop a broader 360-degree perspective before we’ve told our story or felt our feelings, we risk not entirely forgiving.
When we bypass the story and emotions, there’s a significant risk of denying and turning away from how we feel because it feels so uncomfortable. We may stay in pain if we jump to forgiveness without touching the hurt and telling our story.
We don’t transform hurt by turning our back on it; we transform it by being with it and allowing ourselves to feel it fully.
The journey of forgiveness is the ultimate spiritual practice. When we can come to a place where we notice our heart is open, we truly have experienced the miracle of grace.
If you feel called, please comment below. Our community would love to hear from you!
