Om tro, tvil, mening, livsmestring, kunst, stillhet, fred, livsglede
PEACE
The goal of the path of forgiveness is PEACE, and more PEACE. What does that mean?
Liberation
When we forgive, we free ourselves from the attachment to our hurt feelings and the person who hurt us. We know that we are valuable people on a par with everyone else. Those who hurt us no longer define us.
Peace of mind
Painful and difficult feelings often lead to an inner turmoil that is constantly there. Forgiveness improves feelings and reduces anxiety.
Forgiveness is the peace and understanding that comes when you become less concerned with what hurt you, says Fred Luskin.
Research has shown that people who have forgiven have higher self-esteem and hope, reduced anger and hostility, and greater freedom from being controlled by people and events in the past (Enright et all in Enright and North 1998).
Peace with oneself and peace in the world
is the subtitle of Tutu's book asends with this poem:
This is my forgiveness book.
This book is full of stories and secrets.
It's about how I finally broke free from being defined by my wounds.
About how I chose to create something new.
I chose to forgive.
I chose to accept that I am forgiven.
I chose to help create peace in the world.
Forgiveness represents something that is good and right for everyone. It lays a good foundation for a good conscience and peace of mind. No wonder forgiveness is referred to as a virtue.
Better health for you
Forgiveness has a healing power both psychologically and physically. Extensive research over the last 30 years confirms this.
Better relationships in the family and at work.
Anger and bitterness poison not only you, but all your relationships, children, spouse, partner, colleagues.
When we overcome suffering, we achieve a more mature understanding of what it means to be humble, courageous and loving in the world, Robert Enright asserts. It enables us to create an atmosphere of forgiveness in our homes and workplaces, to help others who have been harmed to overcome their suffering, and to protect our communities from a vicious cycle of hatred and violence.
Back to our true nature
We have an immortal capacity for love and freedom that is unaffected by what happens to us, asserts Jack Kornfield. Forgiveness brings us back to this true nature of ours.
Peace in society - peace in the world
Forgiveness lays the foundation for more peace in our local communities and in the world.
When the apartheid system in South Africa was dismantled, forgiveness was chosen over revenge and the Truth Commission laid the foundations for a peaceful transition to democracy.
In a similar way, it is also possible to find a way out of today's violent and bloody conflicts which still spin in the vicious circle of revenge.