“Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.”

We all have un-forgiveness stories buried deep inside us-a time that we did something unknowingly, thoughtlessly or intentionally that resulted in harm to someone, which we still carry with us every day and which is stopping us from having the relationships and life we desire. Today is the day that you recognize that you don’t have to wait years for the relief of receiving someone else’s forgiveness, if it ever comes at all. You can choose to forgive yourself now, whether the other person forgives you or not, and free yourself from the weight of your shame and self-judgment. Today consciously give yourself and the others involved forgiveness, recognize that we all do our best with the information and understanding we have based on our upbringing and our time in the world. Once you know better, you can do better. You always have the opportunity to get wiser. Forgiveness is compassion and wisdom. Forgiveness in ourselves and others is one of life’s great lessons. We are often held hostage by our inability to forgive and therefore so is our potential to achieve our life’s purpose. Today, consciously choose to forgive yourself and others and give yourself the gift of freedom from the past and freedom from guilt and shame so that you can become all that you can be.

Just for today, I recognize that forgiveness takes place in my own mind. It really has nothing to do with the other person. I forgive myself for not being perfect. I am living the best way I know how. As I forgive myself it becomes easier to forgive others. I forgive myself and set myself free. And so it is.