Happy #ForgivingFridays everyone! Yay! This is an opportunity for you to let go and forgive.  You can do your post ANY DAY this week! Anything that inspires YOU to forgive and choose love – even if you’re struggling.  e.g., write a poem, share a quote or video, do an act of kindness, forgive yourself or someone else. 🙂 I look forward to see what you do!

Today’s Forgiving Fridays is on Compassion and Letting Go.

I’m in the middle of a big Conference this week (I’m up at 6:30am to do #ForgivingFridays before we start!).  As a part of the Conference, my colleague and I hosted an event where we could gather together as a group and share what’s next for each of us in heartfelt service.

I started out the group, and then my colleague took over to do a centering process.

At that point, I did something that was sort of controlling.  Basically trying to tell her what to do.  Right after I did that, I was like, “WHAT did I do?”

Once the group started sharing, I went up to her and apologized.  I’m really good at keeping honest and open communication – to me, it’s one of the keys to relationship.

She listened, and she just loved me.  I saw it on her face, in her eyes, and in her smile.  I had an incredible experience of feeling understood and bathed in compassion.

It was so easy to let go in the energy field of such loving.  I used to think I could never be in partnership with someone, because I wasn’t “perfect” or I was too “controlling”.  The truth is, I’m an amazing human being, and I’m here to learn and grow – and this process helps me awaken to the gifts of my own heart.

In that moment, I saw how I could choose to beat myself up.  Or I could choose to forgive, to learn and adjust for next time, and to laugh and let go.  I chose to forgive.

I forgive myself for judging myself as bad when I try to control people and situations.

I forgive myself for judging trying to control as bad in the first place.

The truth is, controlling behavior isn’t bad or good.  It just is.  And I can carry compassion for where it came from inside of me.

When I was a kid, I learned early on to try to control my environment, because my home life felt very scary to me.  I also tried to be perfect, because I thought that’s how I can get loving from my parents.  I have such understanding for that little one, who felt a need to do these.  Just like my colleague had compassion for me.

Relationships are so colorful – I used to think that messiness was “bad”.  More and more, I get that messiness is an incredible gift, because it often shows me exactly where I can forgive and let go of the past and give myself love to the part inside that hurts.

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I am SO SO grateful for all of you who contribute to Forgiving Fridays.  I learn so much from you!  Here are this week’s contributions:

Etta of Simply Etta D. gave us a courageous invitation to open to our true selves and explored what her life would be like if she did that. What a great opening to forgiveness!

DeB of Roaming Urban Gypsy contributed two blog posts, one of a collage of Brooklyn flowers and decorations, plus a second depicting a gorgeous arrangement of purple and white flowers  – two great images to make peace with our minds!

Frank of Poetry, Short Prose and Walking wrote a poem on how forgiveness strengthens us and helps us as a bridge between sorrow and joy. Love guides the way!

Pragalbha of Infinite Living wrote a poem on how even in the darkest of times, we can keep going, step-by-step, and awaken to the miracle of new beginnings. A great example of forgiveness!

Nikki of A Kinder Way shared a wonderful analogy of how we can move forward on our goals even when all our ducks aren’t in a row.  Plus an adorable photo to illustrate!

Anita of Healing Words gave us a post full of sunshine, affirmations and humor. What wonderful keys to forgive!

And in case you missed it…

Revived Writer wrote a poem to make peace with her mind this week, reminding herself that love is so close by her always.  Thank you – I love this!

Lacey of Big and Pinky Toes does a weekly review each Friday, with lots of creative and nurturing stuff.  This week she also highlighted my blog.  Thanks Lacey!

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I’d like to end with a great quote on forgiveness from my spiritual mentor, John-Roger – it really sums up my post today:

“Forgiving means “for giving”– for, in favor of; giving, to give. When you forgive another, to whom do you give? The other? Sometimes. Yourself? Always. To forgive another is being in favor of giving to yourself and to others. In addition, most of us judge ourselves more harshly and more often than we judge others. It’s important to forgive ourselves for all the things we hold against ourselves.”  John-Roger, DSS

I love you.

Love,

Debbie

***This post is my contribution for Frank’s Challenge, Colorful. Frank, I am doing a creative take on colorful, learning from and celebrating the colorful ups and downs of relationship – and using it to forgive and let go.  Thank you so much.***

 ❤

Here are the guidelines of #ForgivingFridays:  

• Every day is Friday!  Do a post today or anytime this week.
• Be creative – there’s LOTS of space for your expression! Write a poem, take a photo, post a quote, share your story …  what opens your heart?
• Include #ForgivingFridays in your tags
• Create a pingback link to this post so I can find you.
• Have fun – you are awesome!