Philosophy of Forgiveness:
The most powerful tool that human beings possess is Forgiveness. Men and women must learn to use forgiveness to bring peace to individuals, to communities, and to entire societies. Before we can apply forgiveness to our grief and grievances, however, we must dispel some myths about forgiveness. In our culture, forgiveness is usually seen as a sign of weakness. Our movies, generally, perceive an individual in fear approaching an individual in power with cries of mercy and forgiveness. Or, we may see a spouse seeking forgiveness from a mate for a perceived indiscretion. In almost every case forgiveness, in our society, is intended to release the offender from the feeling of guilt. We view forgiveness as a way for two people or two groups of people to settle disputes.
Forgiveness, however, are so much more.
In an article for Lifetime titled 'Forgive and Feel Better', Jeanann Pannasch wrote, "In a recent study, Charlotte Witvleit, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, found that when individuals were able to forgive, they experienced greater joy, a more profound sense of control over life and less depression. Sound appealing?". She goes on to quote Everett L. Worthington Jr., Ph.D., executive director of A Campaign for Forgiveness Research who said, "But grudge-holding only gives us the illusion of power. If you hold on to that anger on a chronic basis, then it has power over you, eating away at your peace of mind and perhaps even your immune system.
Without seeming to usurp the meaning in the words of Jeanann Pannasch, the key difference between our common attitude toward forgiveness and what she writes is in the place of emphasis. Our common attitude assumes that forgiveness is more beneficial to the person asking for forgiveness.
Jeanann Pannasch places the emphasis on the person giving forgiveness. Her interpretation represents the most powerful use of forgiveness. When we grant forgiveness, we release from within ourselves some form of fear, hate, anger, and guilt. We make room within us for more love to enter. Forgiveness is equally beneficial to the giver and to the receiver. But the giver has far more discretion on how forgiveness may be used in his or her life, and, that is where the power of forgiveness lies.
There are no limitations to forgiveness. Forgiveness can be given openly to a person or persons face to face. However, forgiveness is most effective when given to a person or persons, to a situation, or to an entire culture from within without ever mentioning that forgiveness to another person. Why? Because the most effective use of forgiveness is to clear our own mind's paths of debris and sludge. These paths have become filled with fear, hate, anger, and guilt. Our ability to give and receive love is diminished. Our ability to communicate to our higher self is blocked. When we have a thought, any thought, that thought is communicated. If it is not communicated, openly, through speech or through writing does not mean that it does not have impact. Every thought has an impact. Thoughts of fear, hate, anger, and guilt have a great impact within. We may not be aware of the impact. But, there is an impact. Thoughts of forgiveness have a great impact within especially for the person doing the forgiving. The thought of forgiveness becomes part of universal energy and reaches the minds of all those accepting that forgiveness.
About Us:
Our newsletters are our means to reach out to others who are in search of basic truth. This search began almost 30 years ago with one question: How can we balance our lives? The summary of the answer to this question was compiled in a book titled 'Creating Your Personal Journey'. The book was published in 1996. The search has continued as we adapt to a new question: What is the truth? We are guided by the thought that, 'The best way to learn anything is to teach it.
Please feel free to pass this e-zine on to your friends. However, we ask that you keep it intact and forward it in its entirety.
To subscribe: Send us an email with your name and email address. Insert the word 'subscribe' in the subject line.
To unsubscribe: Send us an email with your name and email address. Insert the word 'remove' in the subject line.
? Copyright 2005 Roger Paradis
Roger L. Paradis-"We R One"
http://www.were-one.com
mail to paradisrjs@were-one.com
623 East New Lenox Rd. Pittsfield, MA, 01201
Creating a New Vision for the 21st Century
Spring is here at last! The season brings with it... Read More
I am often astounded at what and why people believe... Read More
P.M.A - so what is it? Some people will automatically... Read More
Know your limits. Accept what you can't change and let... Read More
Can you really plan a life-changing experience, or do they... Read More
Every emotion, wether we classify it as good or bad,... Read More
From Making the Big Move: how to transform relocation into... Read More
It is widely believed that just anybody has the intrinsic... Read More
Look at this glass on the table in front of... Read More
Look for the positives!Seek them out - those little scary... Read More
I'm sure most of you remember the children's book about... Read More
Recently a great idea popped into my head about creating... Read More
Have you ever considered that you may be subconsciously sabotaging... Read More
When someone thinks of a person with self-esteem most people... Read More
Would you like to be confident in the things you... Read More
You may be facing a type of disappointment, frustration, loss,... Read More
I once heard the story of a grown bear that... Read More
You already have all the resources you need to accomplish... Read More
ARE YOU IN... OR OUT?Are you in or out of... Read More
"Putting ourselves down, is an insult to our worth." --Helen... Read More
Lately, I've been hearing that it's not okay to have... Read More
Did you know that our thoughts may be influencing our... Read More
"Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side... Read More
Hospital patient undergoing surgery recounts how Hero Soul provided strength,... Read More
(The following is an actual email conversation between Newton Hightower,... Read More
Everyone of us has the potential to successfully more through... Read More
Almost everyone experiences some form of worry one time or... Read More
One of the most well known books ever written on... Read More
Aging is a matter of the mind.The years may creep... Read More
Looking around at our circumstances we may see only mountains... Read More
Year after year I find more and more individuals saying... Read More
I will never forget an evening in 2003, when I... Read More
There are very many methods for achieving improvement to our... Read More
"You can't always get what you want . . ."... Read More
Some people are full of confidence and able to meet... Read More
In frustration it's easy to jump to false conclusions that... Read More
Recently a great idea popped into my head about creating... Read More
I don't know about you, but for me, the technological... Read More
Often when radical change occurs in our lives we feel... Read More
What is a paradigm? In my own words, a paradigm... Read More
I was a young girl aged 12, when the one... Read More
I thought this was fitting sense I just experienced a... Read More
When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine... Read More
The Alchemists of old worked over many years, centuries, in... Read More
Wahms, do you constantly compare yourself with others and come... Read More
Studies show that men and women profit most with having... Read More
Heard of a raindance? It is a ritual used by... Read More
As I swooshed down the Zoom Flume water slide at... Read More
Do you talk with yourself? When we hear people talking... Read More
There are times that we encounter fearful thoughts that can... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |