Standing at the top of the mountain, I can look down and have an all-encompassing view of my life. I notice the roots of my ancestral linage, the terrain where jagged edges have formed due to painful survival struggles, and the grooves formulated along the rough strewn surface that led me into necessary fated predicaments that taught me needed lessons. I accept it all.
Shall I blame myself or others for the scrapes and bruises that happened amidst the climb? Or shall I see the calluses formed on my hands and heart as proof of the experiences that brought me into a deeper awareness of what really matters in life ~ self love and the overflow that naturally showers compassion upon others?
What I have come to know is this ~ everyone is making that same climb. If we knew what a treacherous journey each of us was attempting to traverse, we would come to understand why people behave the way they do. We act out our subconscious fears that were born of histories fraught with peril. This is what takes place until we reach that conscious state at the top of the mountain where a bird’s eye view brings us to a holistic understanding. At the peak, we see and know that everything we’ve encountered was meant to bring us to this place of holy vision. A compassionate heart bursts forth and the whole world is blessed.
When we attempt to forgive others, I have found that using the words “I understand you” is more helpful than the words “I forgive you.”
The concept of forgiveness has long been associated with pardoning someone’s bad behavior, and many times we just give lip service to the words “I forgive you” when deep down we are still angry. But when we say, “I understand you” we realize that they had just acted out of their own subconscious wounded state of mind. That doesn’t mean we don’t tell them the truth about how their behavior upset us. In fact, many times it is essential to do just that, albeit with a compassionate heart instead of a warrior stance. This gives the other person the information they need to grow. Whether they choose to learn their own set of lessons or not, it is important to set up good boundaries with them going forward. Sometimes that means saying goodbye to relationships, including people that are no longer alive in a human body. This is how we set limits to protect ourselves from any further destructive dynamics.
“I understand you,” helps us to forgive. From the mountaintop, we then walk through our everyday life, unafraid to speak our truth, while setting the healthy boundaries we need to hold on to our sense of joy. It brings us the freedom to wish others well as we continue on, at our own pace, with peace in our hearts.
Pen Augustin is author of Waves of Light and The Priestess Tale series. Pen loves to give messages about how we can heal ourselves and bring balance to our beloved planet. Living near the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, she enjoys spending time in nature and communing with the local wildlife.