When was the last time you checked the contents of your knapsack?

You know, the sack you carry around that contains pebbles of anxiety around unresolved issues, people that ticked you off, circumstances that went south, hurt, pain, fear … ?

Through experiences we collect these little pebbles – admittedly some are boulders – and one by one we add them to our very personal collection and carry them around always. Individually they may be incidental – we can handle it - but over time, when we keep adding to the sack, eventually it weighs us down.

Have you found yourself reacting to people or situations that would normally just roll off like water on a duck asking yourself, “Why was I so upset about that?”  Little by little, harboring resentment without forgiveness can have a cumulative effect and ultimately become self-sabotaging. 

Aha! ~ Forgiveness is not for them, it is for you.

It is not like you to lash out for little or no reason, you are too aware for that.  But each pebble – each unresolved issue that you have not forgiven - is like permission to beat yourself up and close yourself off.  And when your self-love slips to a lower vibration, you block your intuition and healthy quantum entanglement.

“Forgiveness and self-love are two sides of the same coin. When you forgive yourself, your heart begins to open a little bit more.  Each time you forgive yourself about old issue, your load drops away.” ~ Sumaya O’Grady

Here’s the thing: forgiveness does not mean you condone someone’s actions, even yours. Forgiveness means that you choose to no longer carry around the pain, doubt, or insecurity associated with it (besides, none of this is real anyway).  Instead, you have chosen to inspect each incident, asked yourself, “What could I have done differently to create a better outcome?’, learned the lesson, and decided to go forward with an open heart.

And whether you choose to unzip through meditation, dancing, going in nature, talking or just plain deep breathing, make it a habit – a promise – to yourself too that this be part of your weight management program.

O’Grady leaves us with this: “When you start opening yourself up to love you have to stop listening to that which is not true.  Past mistakes are truly a stepping-stone to your success.”   Know when to leave the stones on the trail.

Go LIVE with me and your fellow Trailblazers tomorrow at noon eastern.  Take A Human Approach.

Succeed Deliberately!

Jae M. Rang, MAS           

Strategist, Speaker, Author, Mom