Learning to forgive

Joel Johnson writes a personal story about learning to forgive – others, and himself. Some excerpts:

“It’s awfully nice to forgive.

“Forgiveness is the economy of the heart…forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”
— Hannah More

“I didn’t used to think much of forgiveness. I’d harbor a years-long grudge against anyone for the slightest accidental scuff of my ego, adding my jealousy and indigence to a cauldron of molten spite that I’d tip out every time I needed to get something done…

“But I didn’t enjoy it. I was all ate up inside. And outside for that matter, too disgusted with my body to take care of it. So like a mistreated engine, I had myself a nice little breakdown right in the middle of the road. And by “the road” I mean “my career.”

“And that’s okay,” said my inner voice. “You will fail again. You are forgiven.”

“It’s okay to go off course sometimes. We are imperfect. And loathing yourself or bemoaning your lack of work ethic isn’t actually doing anything, either. It’s just another way to do what you really want to do, which is obviously to do nothing…So:

“Forgive yourself for losing focus. Then forgive yourself for worrying about losing your focus.

Forgive yourself for making unrealistic goals. Forgive yourself for making goals that aren’t big enough to keep you interested.

“Forgive yourself for doing work that’s not your best. Forgive yourself for comparing your work to the work of others.

“Forgive yourself for thinking something other than your work might be fun.

“Forgive yourself for any single thing you find yourself feeling guilty about…More here (some profanity)

Easier said than done. But maybe with little reminders from other humans struggling as we are, it’s possible transcend our shortcomings, at least sometimes. Think?