Forgive for freedom

We’ve all had those moments where it feels like certain actions are simply unforgiveable. But forgiveness is the antidote to guilt and shame, emotions we seem to be born with in Ireland. It feels like we carry them in our DNA; they are ancestral, in our lineage — and our approach to healing our generational trauma can be painful and difficult to face.

As I began to wander down the forgiveness path, my intention was to just take a stroll and see what all this forgiveness lark was about. After all, there were a lot of people in my life that simply seemed to be unforgiveable.

Then something strange happened, and, over time, I began to access parts of me that encouraged vulnerability and an open heart, and that surprising entrance-way began my forgiveness work. I quickly learned that forgiveness is not a one-time event. In fact, it’s a layered process, and we begin to understand the layered process because each one brings pain to the surface. Each layer also brings compassion, freedom, boundaries and much more. Just because we forgive people, it doesn’t mean we have to let them back in. It does mean though that we break the chains that bind us energetically to that person. These chains keep us stuck and stagnant in a pool of hate, anger, resentment and negativity. After all, if there is someone jailed, there has to be a jailer. Real forgiveness means freedom from a life of carrying resentment, bitterness and a heavy heart. When someone has already hurt you, why let them take more from your precious life waiting to be lived?