Last week I talked about dealing with the garbage that gets dumped into our lives. However, the main emphasis was on dealing with the garbage that others put upon us that we have to sort through. There is no doubt that dealing with garbage that others heap upon us can be very overwhelming. The main thing it takes to deal with this is forgiveness. And forgiving others for the pain they cause us can be extremely difficult.
However, the hardest person we may ever need to forgive is ourselves.
As I look back on over 65 years of life I can easily see those times that others have failed, disappointed, abused, misused, took advantage of … in short, inflicted pain upon me. But, if I am completely honest with myself, the person who has let me down the most in my life, is me. I have squandered time, opportunities, advantages, and resources that were at my disposal that could have made my life (and, consequently, the lives of my nuclear family) so much better. There are so many times that I have failed to be the kind, loving, and generous person I could have been to make others lives so much better.
Can you identify?
What do I do with the garbage that I can only blame myself for dumping into my life?
In short, quit blaming myself. Rather than waste my time blaming and beating myself up over what I have done (or, failed to do) in the past, I can choose to forgive myself for past mistakes and failures and face the present moment of now as an opportunity to make better choices. No. I will not always make the best choices. I will still make mistakes and bad choices. But I do not have to compound those mistakes by beating the hell out of myself. Just as forgiveness may well be the most powerful form of love that I can offer to others when they fail me, it is also the most powerful thing I can bestow upon myself to bring about a positive transformation in the way I approach life.
It is the most important gift you can bestow upon yourself.
Forgive yourself.
Think about it.
You are loved. Love yourself. Peace.
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