Category: Healing Grief
What if?
“We are all visitors to this time and place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love….and then we return home” – Native Proverb
Grateful Moments
It’s easy to be grateful when I am living in this moment, for within this moment I have no fear about tomorrow, no regret about yesterday and being truly present I understand the gift of life.
When tragedy or major changes confront us along our journey, it’s very difficult to find gratefulness.
Stepping out
“At times we are all afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or others or our possessions. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.” – Paul Coelho
My Aunty lost her son earlier this year and she has struggled immensely with her grief and her guilt. Today she called to tell me about an experience she had, as she was walking along the beach.
She said she was walking alone, lost in the moment when suddenly she felt her son’s presence strongly come by her side. At first she looked behind her because she was sure someone was near her and yet, she saw no-one. She then felt his hand placed softly on her back and he said “All you need to do, is keep moving forward.”
Such a simple statement and yet it was exactly what she needed to hear, to help her in that moment and encourage her. She was overwhelmed for a few hours after at the thought that he was near her, but as she began to absorb the words he said, she realised it was all she needed to do and that she didn’t need to know how or why it happened.
When we feel overwhelmed in life, whether it is from grief or loneliness or feeling that life is not working towards your goal, you do not need to do anything besides accept, let go and continue to move forward.
If we stay in the pain of the past or locked in what we need right now, we cannot see the bigger picture ahead and all that life will bring us. Instead, when we have the courage to sit in our pain and see and accept it for what it is, you will begin to trust that change and peace will come, just like the seasons and the sunsets.
As we all reflect on what this year has taught us and has given us, let us not forget that when we thought nothing was changing, it did, or when we thought life would never get better it did, or when we never thought that one of our goals would be completed it did or will in time.
We just need to remember to keep moving forward, always in hope and in love and never lose sight of how precious this moment is.
“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.” – Eckhart Tolle
Releasing Anger
That which I do not forgive in you, lies unforgiven within myself.
A classic Buddhist proverb states: “Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” Forgiveness is one of the most important lessons life has to offer, but it is also one of the more difficult sentiments to learn and practice.
In order for us to even think of forgiveness, we must first try to understand the other person’s emotions, thoughts and feelings, while also realizing that they too have a story of their own and so forgiving their actions can become plausible.
There is nothing easy about forgiveness. It takes courage and a true consciousness of will to let go and allow yourself and the other person to come to a place of peace. When I decided to forgive the driver that killed my 9-year-old son, I struggled to believe I could.
Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, nor does it mean that you have given the message that what someone did was okay. It just means that you’ve let go of the anger or guilt towards someone, or towards yourself.
“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.” – Katherine Ponder
We need to forgive ourselves too. When we have wronged others with our words or thoughts, we need to forgive and let go of our guilt and remorse. It is never too late to forgive and for those who have died that you still hold anger towards, allow forgiveness to them as well, so that you do not hold onto this pain in your heart, stopping the flow of love and abundance in your life.
It seems that most people need to experience a great deal of suffering before they will relinquish resistance and accept — before they will forgive.
There is such power in forgiveness, that if you knew the release that occurs for yourself and others, the peace and the love within that you start to feel afterwards, then you would never hesitate to do it.
Forgive today.
Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realising, you were the prisoner. – Max Lucado
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 