Forgiving

I am a much more forgiving person than I used to be, thanks to program. I can actually put this character trait in the positive list. What a pleasure it is to be able to do that. It has taken a lot of hard work to be able to get to this place of forgiveness.

Thanks to program, I am now able to release the anger, resentment, and blame that I feel towards someone or myself for a wrong that has been done against me. I can now let it all go and move forward.

Now I need to qualify this. I can release the anger, resentment, and blame provided I work my program and the steps on the issue first. I do this along with the work I outlined in the “Forgiveness” section of “The Principles.” This enables me to come face-to-face either with what I’ve done to a person or what I think the person has done to me. Then I can make amends and make a commitment to change my behavior as is appropriate to the situation at hand.

I forgive Doris for not accepting my amends. I forgive her for thinking and speaking negatively about me. I forgive her for everything I think she has done to me.

I forgive myself for not being perfect in this friendship. I forgive myself for judging myself for not being available to her 24 hours a day. I forgive myself for calling myself selfish for not being available 24/7 when I was really just taking care of myself. I know I did the best I could with this friendship. That is all I can expect from anyone, including myself.

Thus I am learning forgive myself. I am trying to learn not to be so hard on myself. Being hard on myself does not serve me. I am learning to forgive others because I’m learning to forgive myself. It all starts with me.

Working my program has allowed me to put that bag of bricks of resentment down and feel the freedom that comes with true forgiveness. It feels great and is God-given. I am grateful.