Posts tagged forgiveness
Redefining Forgiveness and How to Heal Without It
Redefining Forgiveness and How to Heal Without It

“Forgiveness makes me feel weak and vulnerable.” We can be hurt in a plethora of ways, from overt abuse and injustice, to social infractions and insensitive oversights. The latin word for forgive is “perdonare,” which means “to give completely, without reservation.” This literal and limited definition seems to disregard context. Sometimes it is not possible to offer forgiveness to another person, either because they are no longer alive or accessible, or because it doesn’t feel safe or appropriate for us to do so. If we disqualified the term “forgiveness” from any given transgression, what would be our goal for resolving it? In prioritizing resolution instead of reconciliation, healing rather than pardoning, we may discover more clarity of our own experience.

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonavoidance, ambiguity, choices, conflict, decisions, defense mechanisms, emotion, empathy, fear, freedom, forgiveness, growth, grief, health, healthy choices, heartbreak, loss, letting go, peace, parasympathetic, release, resilience, safety, security, self-preservation, protective, threat, trust, survival, vulnerability, values, adversity, experience, healing
Rooted in Self-Trust
Rooted in Self-Trust

We typically associate the concept of trust in relation to other people—how credible, believable or reliable we find someone to be. However, we often struggle to develop that same trust, confidence, and belief in ourselves. We can grow self-trust by deepening the roots of understanding of who we are, strengthening our trunk (or core) by honestly accepting, forgiving and being present for ourselves, and extending branches of ourself that respond to life’s challenges with flexibility and perspective. It is a process. Yet, cultivating this kind of deep inner trust is enduring, irreplaceable, and self-perpetuating.

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Self-DiscoveryErin Masonawareness, confidence, empowerment, flexibility, growth, identity, integration, growth mindset, nature, openness, perspective, resilience, resiliency, self-confidence, self-trust, trust, truth, authenticity, vulnerability, values, adversity, wellness, experience, exploration, attachment, trees, grounding, present moment, self-acceptance, forgiveness, self-compassion, refuge
~~ Expanding Inside Out: Part 1 ~~ When We're Closed
~~ Expanding Inside Out: Part 1 ~~ When We're Closed

As different as our modern life may be in comparison to the primitive threats to survival our ancient ancestors faced, we still encounter a plethora of real and perceived attacks—natural disasters, social and economic injustices, political rivalries, bullying in schools and social media, viruses run amok, and perhaps above all, vastly conflicting views on how to address those threats. When we feel threatened, we contract—physically, emotionally, and mentally. In this defensive position, we tend to operate from a place of fear, judgment toward others (or ourselves), and a need to protect or preserve what we have. What causes us to feel closed, cautious, and uncertain?

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonadversity, authenticity, ambiguity, awareness, defense mechanisms, protective, self-preservation, cancel culture, control, decisions, discovery, empowerment, expansion, covid, collaboration, curiosity, compassion, creative solutions, contraction, fear, resilience, perspective, perception, brain function, survival strategies, risk, threat, trauma, courage, connection, open minded, opportunity, empathy, experience, flexibility, forgiveness, growth, gratitude, health, inspiration, loss, liberate, trust, survival, transformation, negativity bias