Quotes About Forgiveness

Here's another quirk some of us have. We're able to demonstrate a lot of compassion for other people. We can understand why they did the things they did. But when we look in that mirror, we can't seem to muster up any compassion, forgiveness, or understanding for ourselves.

We relinquish regrets over the past and fears about the future. We make the most of each day.

It is time to stop this nonsense of running around picking on ourselves.

In the morning and throughout our day, we lovingly and gently ask ourselves what we can do for ourselves that would feel good. We ask ourselves what we need to do to take care of ourselves. When we hurt, we ask what would help us feel better.15 We give ourselves encouragement and support. We tell ourselves we can do it, we can do it good enough, and things will work out. When we make a mistake, we tell ourselves that's okay.

Forgiveness comes in time—in its own time—if we are striving to take care of ourselves. Don't let other people use this principle against us. Don't let other people help us feel guilty because they think we should forgive someone, and we are either not ready or believe forgiveness is not the appropriate solution.

We don't have to punish ourselves by feeling guilty to prove to God or anyone else how much we care.7 We need to forgive ourselves. Take the Fourth and Fifth Steps (see the chapter on working a Twelve Step program); talk to a clergy person; talk to God; make amends; and then be done with it.

Even God cannot change the past. —Agathon

Forgiveness is wonderful. It wipes the slate clean. It clears up guilt. It brings peace and harmony

Melody Beattie

Inventory Focus: Instead of berating yourself for not knowing something you don't or can't see, are you willing to be gentle with yourself while you wait for clarity?

why shouldn't I react? Why shouldn't I say something back? Why shouldn't I be upset? He or she deserves to bear the brunt of my turmoil." That may be, but you don't.

The longer this lifetime goes, the more convinced I am that our primary responsibility in life is to find a way to make peace with ourselves, our past, and our present—no matter what we face and no matter how often we need to do that.

We do not have to act in haste; we do not have to punish others to get control over our feelings. We can begin sharing our hurt feelings with others. That brings relief and often healing to them and to us.

Today, I will not strike out at those who cause me pain. I will feel my emotions and take responsibility for them. I will accept hurt feelings as part of being in relationships. I am willing to surrender to the pain as well as the joy in life.

Yes, we have the right to be mad at a sick person. We didn't ask for the problem. Although the ideal feeling is compassion, we probably won't feel this until we deal with our anger.

I'd rather have a few wonderful years with love than a long life with animosity.

Not forgiving someone is like not pulling a thorn out of your foot just because you weren't the one to put it there.

not forgiving someone is like not pulling a thorn out of your foot just because you weren't the one that put it there.

Love now–a good, solid love is something infinitely rarer and more difficult to maintain, because you don't know everything your partner is feeling. Love takes work. Love means being able to apologize and mean it when you blunder. Love is worth fighting for!

And revenge generally turns out to be a lot less satisfying than you think it will be.

What if I make a mistake?: she finally said. :Everyone makes mistakes. I make mistakes. If you make a mistake, we'll admit to it, own it, and then fix it.:

Mummy says not forgiving someone hurts you worse than it hurts him," the child persisted. "Even if he doesn't deserve to be forgiven. She says not forgiving someone is like not pulling a thorn out of your foot just because you weren't the one that put it there.

Begin at the beginning, go on until you reach the end, then stop." And the beginning was forgiveness.

How to forgive when you really didn't want to? Convince yourself that you do, of course.