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 standing in my inner guidance!

This is a really big day for me.  I’m completing a 6-month coaching intensive for a group of 9 women who are committed to growing their practice.  I’m one of the 9 and I want to use this blog to acknowledge myself for all I’ve done in this program.

I started as a Forgiveness Coach at the beginning of last year.  It came so naturally out of what I’d already been doing in my life.  I’m a living demonstration of what can happen when you practice Self-forgiveness.  I had so many years of self-hatred, including eating disorders, alcohol issues, and self-sabotaging in relationships.  It was when I found Self-forgiveness that the healing began.

The key in all of this for me is to be willing to let go of my own judgments, that things “should” be different than they are – including me!  I learned how to accept myself deeply, all of the thoughts, all of the feelings, and all of my body.  They are not who I am.

Rumi has a quote, I’ve shared it many times in this blog:

Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

In my experience, Self-forgiveness is the way to that field.

I stand forward more fully today in the work that I do.  Clients have grown in our program through learning the powerful tool of simply saying, “I forgive myself for judging….”  One success story comes to mind.  I was just starting as a coach.  During a conversation with a colleague, I shared how I envisioned a forgiveness coaching program.  We talked for some time.  At some point, he said, “I need this.”

We worked together for about a year.

What touched me the most was that each session, he stood up in his willingness to forgive. He created miracles for himself by doing this, both inside and in his career, relationships and health.

Oh my gosh, it’s time for me to go.  I’d like to end with a heart-felt prayer:

My prayer is to continue to do this work of forgiveness and assist people in their awakening to the love inside.  I ask for divine assistance to bring me my next steps in my coaching, my home, and my relationships, and that I may step forward in the greatest service possible to do the work of love.  And I trust in my inner guidance, invite Spirit as my partner, and continue my own practice of forgiving and Self-care. All of this with a whole lot of fun!

Here’s a photo of me ready to go today – plus a great one from my partner David with me in the quiet in Sedona:

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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 contributions from this week & some from last week too – they were magnificent:

Etta of Simply Etta D. gave us incredible keys on how to take a leap of faith in your life, and how self-forgiveness can help.  Go, Etta  – this is wonderful!

Sgeoil contributed a gorgeous poem and photo on embracing the moment and living in joy.  I felt the energy of joy come off the post!

Frank of Poetry, Short Prose and Walking contributed a poem on silence as a profound tool to soothe and renew us when we’re hurt and judging. Full of compassion – includes a great photo!

Nikki of A Kinder Way illustrated the many benefits of Morning Pages, including clarity on how to handle a conversation and – you guessed it – doing Self-forgiveness. Such a creative technique!

DeB of Roaming Urban Gypsy contributed one of her new acrylic paintings a few weeks back, An Acquired Taste.  It’s a BEAUTIFUL depiction of how it’s ok to struggle … and take our time accepting things. Thank you, DeB!

Kathy of KE Garland started a new monthly blog post of consciously choosing to blog about someone or something great – positively on purpose.  How cool is that?

In case you missed it from last week:

Revived Writer contributed an insightful poem illustrating an openness to forgive, and willingness to forgive yourself for the thing you’re judging in someone else.  Very wise!

Miriam of The Shower of Blessings wrote a magnificent tanka on trusting and following our heart’s calling — one step at a time.  Gorgeous!

Ali of Flashlight Batteries gave us a poem on Self-forgiveness, asking whether we can indeed have compassion for ourselves.  Just her inquiry opened my heart to such self-beauty!

Pragalbha of Infinite Living shared a beautiful quote, photo and an inquiry on trust.  Her willingness to allow, and to let go into something better, is transformative.  So full of wisdom!

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Remember, you are so beautiful!!!!  Whatever is going on for each of us, let’s allow ourselves to receive the blessings of our own loving today.

I love you.

Love,

Debbie

**This is my contribution to RagTag’s challenge Challenge and Frank’s photo challenge, Field. Frank, I am Rumi’s field. We all are.  I love you!**

 

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!