Anger. Hostility. Blame. Distortion.
"Mike, I don't get it, can you explain?"
Absolutely amigo, let's go.
Some people have been hurt.
Some people have been emotionally wounded.
Some people have lost a sense of trust.
Some people haven't gotten what they truly need.
Everyone, you, me, has been influenced by our past.
We have been.
Both good and not so good.
We know this.
Let me share with you an idea that too many people are
grasping onto.
Too many people are bringing the pain of a past
relationship or past wound to the present day.
It has distorted WHO they can be today.
It has drained their power and their energy today.
It's holding hostage their true greatness and natural
gifts.
Maybe you're bringing a past pain from your parents to
today.
Maybe you're bringing past pain from an old relationship.
Maybe you were hurt by a friend and now you have trouble
trusting others.
We know this, though I have to say it anyway.
When we bring our past wounds to today, WE get hurt, NOT
the person who hurt us.
We lose our power.
We lose the moment.
If you're reading this right now, you can use this moment
to change your life.
You can tap into the POWER OF FORGIVENESS.
You can make a decision, right now, to drop 10-20 pounds or
more of mental weight.
Mental baggage.
Forgive your Mom. Forgive your Dad. Forgive your brother.
Forgive your sister.
Forgive your friend or whoever hurt you.
Stop hurting yourself. You have other's waiting for your
gifts. They need you to drop the past wounds and focus on
developing your talents.
Yes, it isn't always easy. Though, we should LOVE OURSELVES
enough to let go and go forward.
Many people would be amazed if they truly saw how much 'old
stuff' they're holding onto.
Socrates said, "The unexamined life isn't worth living."
What can you let go of?
How can you step into your God given gifts, talents, and
power?
Personally, I think the world desperately needs men and
women of STRENGTH.
Strong, courageous, and fearless individuals who are ready
to unleash their greatness.
How about tapping into the power of forgiveness
today. Give it a try.
There are new levels of power, education, and profit that
want to enter your life right now. First though you need to
make 'mental' room for it.
I believe in you. You and I know your best days are ahead
of you.
True or very true?
Love Ya! You're The Best!
Your Coach,
Michael
Mike,
It's 4 AM and you're email just came through. It was just what I needed to hear. I just forgave my parents; they did the best job they knew with what they have. I forgave myself, because I did the best I knew how,too. I also resolved to make different, better decisions going forward. Since I have forgiven myself, I know that I don't need to continually punish myself by staying in the old patterns and loops of self sabotage. I am forgiven; I start fresh NOW!
Thank you...just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that you made a positive differenc in my life today. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for drop Mental pounds.
Very good. God bless you for all the help.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your lesson on forgiveness and it is really
great to understand the main reason which doesn't allow you to be yourself.
I totally agree with you from my personal experience. I was very much ill and disturbed few years ago and I was unable to take any food.I went to five doctors as I feel little better for few days whenever I visit any doctor. They diagonised me for HYPER ACIDITY but my BP was normal and all sacns showed normal.
My condition became worse in few months I lost abot 12kg wt as I was unable to take food or even liquids etc. Finally I decided to attend a retreat where during the prayer they asked to forgive everyone from my heart and I did the same and I could see a miracle happening in me my condition started improving and I could stop all my MEDICINES within a weeks time.
Thank you for the great lesson and revealing me my inner strength once again.
Regards
Francis
keep them comlng
Boy have you just whacked me over the head with this one!
Talk about food for thought!Definitely my best "Ah Ha" moment of the year.Many thanks for opening my eyes to what should have been obvious to me.
How true! The weight of the baggage that we carry prevents us from moving forward. I'm at least 50 lbs lighter from dropping it. Feels great!
Nice article!
But what if I was the one who hurt someone? and i can't ever forgive myself for that.
Mike:
The biggest person I have to forgive is myself - for not being perfect, for not always being the clear, loving, in action guy. That baggage is real heavy. The good part is that all I have to do is let go of the bag (and believe that I can) and I'm free. The belief that I can do it is the hard part when I am in the middle of it.
I have been enjoying you immensely this year Mike. Lately I picked up your material again after a break and I was amazed that I hadn't heard many of things I now hear in your cds and dvds. I am especially enjoying 'Greatness Held Hostage" recently. It's a book's worth of motivational wisdom condensed into bite sized audio pieces that I can listen to again and again. Slowly it is sinking in. Thanks for being a stand for our greatness Mike. Happy Holidays!
Hey Mike,
I cannot agree with you more, we need to forgive, others and OURSELVES. As you said forgiveness is the most selfless and most selfish act you can do because as you lwt thw othwe person out of the jail of your hurt, you walk out with him or her.
Many people as:"How does one forgive?" Here is a process I developed for my workshops, gleaned from a number of sources, including higherawareness.com
Forgiveness Letter:
Writing a release letter can help you to forgive. You can write release letters every day for those small incidents that happen during the day, but if not released, build up into a crisis. That annoying colleague that does nothing wrong, but always gets under your skin, or those rude customers! For more important issues that you have stronger feelings about or that have been with you for a long time you may want to use the process below to release from the anger, resentment and grudges
Step 1:
Write a letter as you really feel, express your anger to the extent that you feel it. Use foul language, swear, don’t be nice if you don’t feel it.
Burn that letter and as you watch the letter go up in smoke let your feelings go as well.
Step 2: Now that you have released some of the intensity of your feelings write another letter and concentrate on a more positive approach to that person or situation. What are the good qualities, what did you contribute to this situation, what are you responsible for if anything?
Burn this letter as well and as it goes up in smoke allow yourself to release and to experience the joy of releasing.
Step 3: Write another release letter giving your pain and suffering over to a Higher Power and to the best in yourself.Pay special attention to what you have learned, what the gift was in this experience, how it has made you a better person. Don’t just thank the person for the experience be specific – what have you learned, what have you gained.
Burn this letter as well and apart from releasing also look forward to the future and decide and visualise and plan what you are going to do with your new found wisdom.
( For the ritual burning you may want to develop a little ritual of your own, how you do it, you may want to have the support of a loved one to share this moment with you, celebrate afterwards in a fashion that is meaningful to you. Make it special, you have gained unbelievably much in your own development and growth.)
Mike, you are always so spot-on with your emails, and I am so grateful for having found you. Being on your mailing list for the last year has helped me make a real change in directions in my life, and I credit you with keeping my spirits up and my energy pointed in the right direction.
This message is right on time. I'm committed to forgetting the past, forgiving all those who've caused me pain and looking to become the best I can be.
Mike
You sure tell it like it is. I agree with RIEL's letter that one writes and then burns
Forgiveness is such a difficult thing to do in practice. Some years ago when I had my first stroke and was facing surgery with less than 5% chance of surviving, I called each of my four sons into my room individually and asked their forgiveness for not being the perfect father for them, tghen I forgave each of tghem for all the sh they caused their mother (then deceased) and me. Told them let's shut the door on the past and never open it again. To this date (10 years later) that door has never been opened agan altho there were times when I sure wanted to open it.
Thanks Mike, for being you
Michael,
Thank you for including me and being my Coach! I'm going through some changes and know they are for the better, and forgiveness to the ones who caused me so much grief recently will release the inner turmoil I'm feeling now. I appreciate you and look forward to sharing my success down the road. My path is still very rocky and needs more rehabbing. Take care and have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. Best Wishes Always!
Mike, As very frequently you are on point with so many of us, you've really impacted me with this one! It's as if there are deep roots inside with forgiveness issues that twist and strangle so much of my heart's desire rendering me incomplete. Truly, the hurts run so deep and over the years, the various forgiveness techniques and exercises, prayers, have not rid me of this pain. I'll ask YOU: How DOES one step into your God given gifts, talents, and power? Because you have posed the question rhetorically and did not provide an answer. Is it because EACH ONE of us have our own answers? I include you as a real blessing in my life and thank you for being there for so many! Peace be unto you!
Dear Mike, I have gone from being an occasional reader of you to looking forward every day to your email. Your gift of caring for all of us is so apparent. Your suggestion to forgive hit me like a ton of bricks! I have been carrying this weight far too long. I was ranting to a friend about injustices I was experiencing and she said, "So, you would rather be right than be peaceful." I choose peace. Thank you for the love and wisdom you share.
so very true
thank you mike for being such a good friend
omg, Mike, you got me. I speak forgiveness to my patients and clients, but I don't walk my own talk. I never forgave myself for treating my sister unkindly when we were children, or for being such a brat to my parents. I hadn't forgiven myself for mistreating my dog when I was young or for cheating on a math test in high school. I've kept track of each and every time I've let myself or someone else down and used that list as justification for my failures. Today, right now, this moment, I release myself from the weight of that burden, and promise to give myself to the world as the gift that I am. Thank you Mike.
Mike, this is the first one I received from you, I just registered few days ago. Your topic on forgiveness is great. I applied the same principals on my life many years ago and I am free indeed. Now I am a preacher and I preach about the importance of forgive each other because it is in the Bible. Thank you for caring and sharing with other the gift you received to encourage others.
Let me ask you these questions? If I forgive someone, do I have to say it to them, or can I forgive them within myself? Additionally, does this mean that I have to see them anymore if they continue to disrepect and hurt me with verbal abuse? Does forgiveness mean that I have to allow them back in my life? I have always been confused with forgiveness when it comes to complicated issues. If someone trips you and they apologize and you forgive them, that's easy. However when someone has berrated you, put you down, and verbally abused you for an entire lifetime, people expect forgiveness to mean that you have to continue on with a relationship because "it's the right thing to do." It just seems counterproductive...please advise.
Melissa,
I wanted to share this excerpt from an interview with the great author, Harold Bloomfield. Check out his books, they're great.
Does making peace with the past mean we have to forgive the unforgivable? Is forgiveness always necessary?
Forgiveness is not something you give to another person. It’s something you give to yourself. The primary reason to consider forgiving those who have hurt you is for your own peace of mind and the quality of all your future relationships. Otherwise the pain of what was done to you in the past will poison every relationship, whether it’s with your family, business associates or sexual partners. Making the effort to forgive is valuable because it helps you find resolution within yourself, and that’s what matters most. In the end, you may or may not choose to reconcile with the person who’s hurt you.
Resolution is always possible, reconciliation only sometimes.
Mike, thanks for reminding us of this ancient wisdom. For Melissa, you have too many "have to's". Let the "have to's" go. See Thomas Byrom's rendering of the Dhammapada (sayings of Buddha) chapter 1 "'Look how he abused me and beat me, How he threw me down and robbed me,' Abandon such thoughts and live in love. ... In this world, Hate never yet dispelled hate, Only Love dispels hate. This is the Law, Ancient and inexhaustible."
Mike I agree completely with your comments on forgiveness. Have you read " A Course in Miracles"? I would suggest it as a must read.
Thank You very much, Mike!
Thank you for be always in the right place and in the right time with your words and help for many of us.
Happy Holidays and many warm wishes for the 2008!
Marina
Merry Christmas Mike, I thoroughly agree with your message and I will do something difficult today and forgive my sister. Who have you forgiven this Christmas, I would be very interested to hear. Regards Sharon
There is power in forgiveness - if only the world would live by this. Forgiveness gives you peace inside. It gives you hope and a new and better way of looking at life. Forgiveness also gives you strength to move on... to let go of people and things in your life that drain you of your happiness.
Dearest Mike,
I've grown up believing in forgiving but not forgetting, but not to a point of holding a grudge. I certainly believe that those who wronged us, especially if intentionally, has there 'good' reasons. But allowing them to repeatedly do it would be us wronging ourselves. There's an old saying we should always forgive anyone, but never twice - of course there's always exceptions! Your emails are always very nice to read, difficult to practice, but definitely worth trying! always brgds
Mike, You are spot on about the past not equaling the future.We must be "present" and realize the power of "now".Also,forgivness is one of the greatest spiritual gifts we can give ourselves.By forgiving others,we actually unload a tremendous burden from ourselves that we are carrying around even though we sometimes don't even realize it.A great book to read on this subject is "Radical Forgiveness". Everyone have a merry Christmas and let's make 2008 the best year ever!!!
Mike
YOU ROCK...!!!
Thank you Mike. This is just so what I needed to read, believe and act upon. The burden is huge and I have been hurting for so long I've almost forgotten how to "feel".
You've given me the best gift for Christmas and the best start for the New Year that I ever could have received. So many years have been wasted and are now lost, but thanks to you I can see what I need to do at last.
I will love and remember you forever.
Warmth & Happiness to You and Your's from Australia.
Kim
I think this is one of the best letters that you wrote. I enjoy reading all of them but somehow this one hit "home'. it is hard to forget some of the hurts that we have had in the past. But you put it into words that can really help. Thank you for all your information.
I wish you a very healthy, Happy New Year and lood forward to more good letters.
Mike;
I was wondering why I have been so darn sluggish! Really! I never stopped to think just how much this "stuff" was weighing me down. And I would of just
kept on gaining had you not mentioned it. Thanks Mike for
putting it into readable understanding of the extra weight! Love ya tooo....