I know that forgiving frees us from the vicious cycle of sad and angry thoughts, and I also know that being forgiven for our mistakes can generate intense relief and peace. But for me it’s never that simple
The day of forgiveness came into my life thanks to Fernando and his Jewish faith. On one of the most important dates in the Jewish calendar, God judged humanity and recorded the sentence in the Book of Life. But it offered a ten-day reflection period for repentance and forgiveness. Between Rosh Hashanah, the new year, and the tenth day, the day of forgiveness, or Yom Kippur, occurs, and on that day the Book of Life, in which God decides who stays and who goes, is closed and sealed until the next year.
Well, ever since I heard this story full of symbolism, every year I spend days (more than ten, for sure) trying to forgive and be forgiven. I know that forgiving frees us from the vicious cycle of sad and angry thoughts, and I also know that being forgiven for our mistakes can generate intense relief and peace. But for me it’s never that simple and I’ve come to the conclusion that everything would be much simpler if forgiving and being forgiven were an exchange.
Let me explain better: we have great difficulty giving something without receiving anything in return. Forgiving and knowing you are forgiven works, it’s simple and it relieves the ego, that’s it! Quarrels between mother and son, quarrels between little brothers, everything is over. But it would have little value, like everything that is easy. And divine wisdom, wanting the effort of us humans, found a more complicated way to test our abilities. We must forgive those who have never asked nor will ask for forgiveness and we will be forgiven without knowing who we were and by whom.
Well, every year I do the exercise, basically I want to be “inscribed in the Book of Life”, and I remember the people who have hurt me and I mix Jewish forgiveness with a Hawaiian forgiveness technique called ho’oponopono, thus using the seed of religious syncretism with which every Brazilian is born and which seeks to expand my still small consciousness.
I have to admit, though, that I fail a lot. I forgive more easily those I haven’t seen for years. It’s harder to forgive someone who repeats and torments me daily, but who I have to live with. I easily forgive my family let alone the people who have hurt me professionally. Even when it comes to forgiving myself, things come to a head. They say that forgiving yourself is essential. I agree. But when I remember some of the things I’ve done, I’m ashamed to think I had the right. This year, worried about the annual task that took place a few weeks ago, but wanting to somehow consciously participate in the challenge, I used a new strategy and decided to only think about the intention. The goal was to have the sincere intention to forgive, even if I often fail to do so. I tried to focus on the real desire to free myself from the constraints of pain and I thought I was doing better, I thought it was lighter. Maybe it’s a way for an ordinary human being to take the step to deserve to be here.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
