In this world there are plenty of ways to make mistakes. You can trip over your own feet, or trip over someone elses. You can lie to people, or you can lie to yourself. You can hurt others, or you can agonize you. It would seem, any mistakes that one might make affect others, but are we aware of how they affect ourselves? It’s important to remember that one must forgive one’s self at times. Or else you may find yourself continuously beating yourself up for things that happened a long time ago. You may find that you have regrets.
When someone does something that you may perceive to be wrong, first notice the feelings that are created within you. Take a deep breath and watch the emotions. Notice anger, sadness, resentment... The reason you want to watch them is to understand why they exist. Once you understand why they are there, you no longer feel their persuasion. Then, communicate to the person why you perceive this ‘something’ as wrong, communicate the emotions created within you. Let them know how they have spit your being and created unbalance within you. Then, forgiveness.
A wise man once said, “I know I can really help people, I just can’t do it with myself.” Do you understand how much your own wants and reactions get in the way of truly being in harmony with the world? We want to sit in harmony with nature at the side of a lake, but we keep swatting at mosquitoes because we don’t want bites. We keep shifting our legs because we want to be comfortable.
Don’t let yourself get in the way of forgiveness. Don’t let your hatred and pain get in the way of compassion and love. Truly, you are your own greatest enemy. He who has vanquished himself is an unparalleled swordsman.
