Dan, I love the complex thinking behind this piece. I especially love this line:
"Just because the person I was in the past experienced an injustice doesn't mean the person I am in the present needs to hold onto it"
Every second we flow and evolve, how beautiful to think that we can leave behind past hurts as we are no longer the one who got hurt. I was always taught to extend compassion with forgiveness, so this concept of forgiveness without compassion truly intrigues me! I hope you write more on the topic.
“A construct”. Yes. If I write the book, it will be to unpack the construct. I’ll trace how an idea made the journey from a guilt offering to God (an animal sacrifice) to the modern understanding of forgiveness.
Interesting topic. Forgiveness is something we all misunderstand. It is a loaded word with a mix of guilt, high and mighty vibe. That’s how it feels to me. It’s almost this unreachable, huge thing we are told to do. I don’t even find the word necessary. Letting go off resentment is enough, and you do it for yourself first and foremost, as feeling resentful is a heavy and useless energy. Need to shake it off in order to move on. I find people, who let go off resentment towards a person or an issue provides lightness of sorts and opens up something, which may lead to reconciliation and a fresh start. I know many examples in real life of that. Forgiveness is pressure.
Oprah says you may forgive someone but that doesn’t mean you are going to have them come over for dinner! Something like that… again, it was so nice seeing you.
Dan, I love the complex thinking behind this piece. I especially love this line:
"Just because the person I was in the past experienced an injustice doesn't mean the person I am in the present needs to hold onto it"
Every second we flow and evolve, how beautiful to think that we can leave behind past hurts as we are no longer the one who got hurt. I was always taught to extend compassion with forgiveness, so this concept of forgiveness without compassion truly intrigues me! I hope you write more on the topic.
“A construct”. Yes. If I write the book, it will be to unpack the construct. I’ll trace how an idea made the journey from a guilt offering to God (an animal sacrifice) to the modern understanding of forgiveness.
Interesting topic. Forgiveness is something we all misunderstand. It is a loaded word with a mix of guilt, high and mighty vibe. That’s how it feels to me. It’s almost this unreachable, huge thing we are told to do. I don’t even find the word necessary. Letting go off resentment is enough, and you do it for yourself first and foremost, as feeling resentful is a heavy and useless energy. Need to shake it off in order to move on. I find people, who let go off resentment towards a person or an issue provides lightness of sorts and opens up something, which may lead to reconciliation and a fresh start. I know many examples in real life of that. Forgiveness is pressure.
Oprah says you may forgive someone but that doesn’t mean you are going to have them come over for dinner! Something like that… again, it was so nice seeing you.