Alternative Medicine: Feel the freedom with forgiveness

Did any of you notice that my article was missing from the last Health & Wellness section? Life happens and we must flow like water, constantly adjusting. 

Did the absence of the article somehow hinder your day or week? I didn’t think so. So why is it so darn difficult to let go of drama and practice forgiveness? Why do we hold on to grudges as if it where the end of the world? It doesn’t make any logical sense.

Achieving a certain level of forgiveness positively impacts our health and overall wellbeing. But practicing it can be a little tough for many of us. Do you want to know what prevents us from practicing forgiveness? Ourselves! Yeah, that person that stares right back at you in the mirror. It looks just like you; makes the same facial features and more often than not, won’t see you straight in the eye. It (you) knows you’re doing wrong. Creepy but true.

Day in and day out you reminisce of people and situations that did you wrong. You hold on to those instances of moments past for the rest of your life, single-handedly pointing the finger at them for ruining your life. Yet deep inside we yearn to be free, to let it all go and move on. But how can we forgive someone who’s hurt us so much, or how can we forgive ourselves for what we have or haven’t done? 

We begin by acknowledging, accepting and coming to an understanding that growth is a process in which we all make lots and lots and lots, did I say lots, of mistakes. I can’t emphasize enough the “we”, not the “you” or the “they”, but the “we”. 

Practicing forgiveness is not to condone. For many of us growing up, forgiveness meant accepting the actions regardless, kind of like giving a free pass to do it again. Here’s the thing: We have no control over the action of other people. We may feel they are erring but they may feel otherwise. We can argue all day, everyday for the rest of our lives with them about why they are the issue and why we are the angels yet nothing is resolved. Sound familiar? 

Every person and their mind are as unique as a fingerprint. A passage to note: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Matthew 18: 21-22 NIV. 

Every person has their own perception of things. In this fashion this doesn’t make anyone right or wrong. Focus solely on you because trying to justify or change others will be a waste of your precious time. 

Simply, if an environment is toxic, you have the sole responsibility to change it. There is no in-between. But the mind has ways to counteract this strength by concocting false stories of why everyone is at fault except us. It’s called “lack of ownership”. Ask yourself this: “Do I really want to continue living with the past holding me down?” “Is it time to release the past, live in the now and create the future?” I hope your answer was an ecstatic yes. 

By practicing forgiveness you are allowing yourself to release the ball and chain. No longer consumed by trying to justify the action or to forget, remember every person is their own world. It simply sets you free. 

I recommend you record the following exercise on your phone to play back. This allows you to simply relax and enjoy. 

Visualize the person or people you’d like to practice forgiveness with including yourself. Sit is a comfortable place. Close your eyes, inhale and exhale. Silently repeat:

“Namasté, Namasté, Namasté. The spiritual being within me acknowledges there is a spiritual being within you. (This part is important when you forgive. The realization here is that we are all spiritual beings who are in the process of evolving). Namasté, the I AM within me acknowledges the I AM presence within you. The child of God within me honors the child of God within in you. Namasté. (Visualize his/her body disappearing and all you see is brilliant light for you are addressing at the soul level) Namasté. The divinity in me salutes the divinity in you. Atma, Namasté. We are all children of God. We are all in the process of evolving. Evolution involves time, process, and lots of mistakes.

I had my share of mistakes and learned from them. So can you. I wish you the same. God’s peace and love be with me. God’s peace and love be with you. You are completely forgiven.”

Repeat verse 3x

“May you be blessed with inner peace, inner healing. May you be blessed with spiritual transformation & spiritual maturity. God’s blessing be with you. May you spiritually grow and evolve. Namasté. You are completely forgiven. Go in peace. I completely release you. So be it.” 

Open your eyes, how do you feel? 

Note: Repeat this exercise preferably for 7- days. It’s the energetic way of releasing and letting go.

Have a question regarding this article or maybe you’d like to suggest a topic? Write to me at: m_arrieta@yahoo.com. Next article we will talk about the energetic anatomy of the body knows as the aura and chakras.

Marcela A. Arrieta is an alternative modality practitioner with over five years of experience in this field. She is also an entrepreneur who resides in Downey.