forgiveness

Searching for Happiness?

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Six-pack abs won’t make you happy (though they might make you sore). Real joy starts when you stop flexing for the world and start loving what’s already staring back at you. Spoiler: Your glutes can’t buy happiness.

Happiness is an inside job. It flows from the inside and radiates outward through our eyes, smile, countenance, and how feel about ourselves and life. Have tight shapely glutes look great in a mirror and may fit perfectly in the pants or shorts one is wearing. Happiness is not found in glutes, biceps, pecs, or chiseled abs WE may have a temporary sense of euphoria when we go on a trip, get a raise or promotion, or buy something special. The Euphoria we feel is temporary. Remove the stimuli that created our sense of euphoria and all the good feelings we had evaporate. So how do we get happy? I think it all starts with learning to love oneself. It means to love oneself without considering any of the externals. If I love what I see in the mirror because I view it as imperfect, how can I ever find happiness? So, learning to love oneself is the starting point for discovering happiness. Part of loving oneself also requires us to forgive ourselves. We’re human. We will never be perfect. And, we make mistakes continuously. Once we learn to love and forgive ourselves, we can begin to look out word toward others. It’s a lot easier to love and forgive others when we love and forgive ourselves. It closes the circle one can’t be happy and at the same time, angry with oneself with others. Learning to love and forgive oneself this hard work and it takes time and patience. If you want to be happy, the starting place isn’t a gym or a car dealership showroom. It is in front of the mirror.

Three Engaging Questions

1️⃣ When you look in the mirror, what do you truly see—your flaws, your strengths, or the person who’s doing their best each day?

(What would it take for you to see yourself with more compassion?)

2️⃣ In what ways are you still holding yourself hostage to past mistakes—and how might forgiving yourself free you to feel genuine happiness?

3️⃣ What small, daily act could you start today to nurture love and kindness toward yourself, beyond appearances or achievements?

(Sometimes the smallest steps lead to the biggest inner shifts.)

Amazing Grace ~ A Poem by John Newton

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Amazing grace

John Newton

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

This earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

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Healthy Tips: Revenge is a Dish Best Left Off the Menu

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Plotting revenge? That’s cute. But also exhausting, illegal in most states, and a digestive disaster.

Strategy:

Flip the Script: When the urge to “get even” strikes, write what you gained from the situation instead of focusing on what you lost.

Health Benefit:

Forgiving others—even when they don’t deserve it—boosts immune function and reduces chronic stress, keeping your body from staying in fight-or-flight mode.

Pep Talk:

Let karma be the chef. You’ve got better things to cook up—like inner peace and a spicy sweet potato bowl.

Healthy Tip: Grudge Holding Is Not a Cardio Workout (But It Will Exhaust You Anyway)

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Beginning with this post I will provide five posts that are arranged around the theme of letting go of past grievances and anger. We’ll focus on the positive and how letting go of past grievances and anger will improve your health.

Still holding onto that ancient grudge like it’s a winning lottery ticket? Discover why letting it go is the real power move—for your peace and your blood pressure.. You’re not getting six-pack abs by replaying that argument from 2003. All you’re doing is mentally bench pressing emotional baggage—and let’s be honest, you’re not even getting paid for it.

Strategy:

Use the “3-Day Rule”: If you’re still mad after 3 days, write it down, reflect, then commit to releasing it. Holding onto it longer just drains your emotional energy.

Health Benefit:

Letting go of long-term resentment lowers cortisol levels, which reduces blood pressure, inflammation, and the risk of heart disease.

Pep Talk:

You weren’t born to be a grudge gardener. Rip out the roots, and make room for something beautiful to grow.

Moments of Lucidity

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In moments of lucidity everything seems simple to me. The complicated unravels, the mysterious is no longer a mystery, and for that spit second everything makes sense. It’s a space I want to remain in, but I’ve learned it won’t last. I’m fortunate to have my brief glimpse before returning to jousting with windmills like Don Quixote. The brief glimpses of the simplicity of life helps me to focus on what’s really important:

Love is the answer.

We all need forgiveness, no one is perfect.

Kindness builds bridges faster than a construction crew.

Loving Oneself Is the First Step

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“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” ~ Dalai Lama

Embracing Imperfection: The Key to Happier Relationships

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The most unhappy people I know are perfectionists. From my observations they have several things in common; they don’t smile, they make the lives of those closest to them miserable, and they are unhappy. When we accept our imperfections and faults we can let the imperfections and missteps of others slide. When we let things slide suddenly relationships improve. Suddenly the sun’s a bit brighter and the sky a bit bluer. We are all in a state of becoming. We are imperfect. It’s why forgiveness is a big deal. Forgiving ourselves and forgiving others because we are imperfect heals wounds that otherwise would continue to fester. Welcome to our imperfect world let’s smile, sing, and dance our way through our imperfections.

From Anger to Healing: A Journey Through Grief and Forgiveness

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This is Just to Say ~ A Poem by William Carlos Williams

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This is Just to Say

William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

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Forgiveness Lane ~ A Poem by Martha Gilbert Dickinson Bianchi

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Forgiveness Lane

Martha Gilbert Dickinson Bianchi

Forgiveness Lane is old as youth,
You cannot miss your way;
’T is hedged with flowering thorn forsooth
Where white doves fearless stray.

You must walk gently with your Love,        
Frail blossoms dread your feet—
And bloomy branches close above
Make heaven near and sweet.

Some lovers fear the stile of pride
And turn away in pain—        
But more have kissed where white doves hide
And blessed Forgiveness Lane!

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