FORGIVING WITH A PURPOSE

One thing never changes – things never happen the way you expect it to be. No matter how much you prepare and reflect at the beginning of the year, there are always lots of surprises when you look back. Skills you thought would be impossible to hone were mastered; Milestones that seemed easy have tested your patience; Friendships that you never thought could happen became the pillar of your relationships; and gained experiences that redefined the way you prioritize your week. The unpredictability of life is what makes the journey adventurous and the experiences precious because it will never be as it seems.

It also means a dose of forgiveness will be critical to help you keep things into perspective. Because when things don’t go as planned, our natural reaction is to get upset/sad/angry/disappointed. I tend to get harsh with myself, often telling myself things like, “this was all my fault”, “I could’ve done better”, “I should not have done that”, or “what was I thinking that I could do this.”

Forgetting that this may have been the first attempt, or that there were a lot of other circumstances influencing the situation, or that the fault may only be partially on my end. What good comes out when I simply criticize myself? I only end up feeling more miserable. So, this year, I ask us to shift our focus on intentional forgiveness. Yes, you may have a list of items you told yourself you’d do but didn’t get around to it and are unhappy about it. However, I am also certain that you have a list of things you were able to accomplish despite all odds.

This year, I’m taking the time to write down both lists with appreciation and give the space to forgive myself. Because the hardest moments were also the moments that helped me be who I am today and helped me create the next milestones. If I can learn to be more generous of the unintentional mistakes I make, maybe I’ll be able to remain open-minded about the unpredictable experiences that is unfolding every moment. I will be more ready to capture the beautiful lessons I can learn to build the next limitless chapters. So I ask, how will you make space to forgive yourself?

Merry Christmas!
Wishing you a wonderful holiday!