There is so much I am eager to share with our international WITH Forgiveness Community. As a delegate to the UN Commission for the Status of Women, this year, my commitment to being a Peace Maker has deepened; and my belief that forgiveness is a key to personal and world peace has expanded. I had the opportunity to hear instances of horrific abuse experienced by girls, women and elders, and how rather than being imprisoned by past violence they have used those circumstances as a springboard for action to eliminate violence toward all people. This reminds me how empowering it is when we put forgiveness into action in our lives.
Action has two components: first is the action we take in our mind, of discovering the beliefs that imprison us. These beliefs are generally some version of I’m not enough: good enough, smart enough, loved enough, etc. A simple way to identify our beliefs that cause misery and suffering is to use our feelings of anger, resentment and disappointment to uncover them. So the next time you are in the throes of these feeling take the action of using this model to surface your beliefs:
When I’m feeling __________, I’m believing __________.
Once we discover our beliefs we then have a choice to make, do they support fear or love. If they nourish fear, it is time for us to change our internal programming and remember that the truth of who we are is that we are expressions of love, of the Divine, of God.
The second component of action is to actually do something. Many of the girls and women I spoke with at the UN (from all regions of the world) are taking care of other women and children with HIV/AIDS, and providing educational opportunities for girls. In addition they are educating people throughout the world about the discrimination and violence that exists based on age-old cultural beliefs that fail to see the divinity of all beings.
So my message to you this month – is to take action NOW; first within your own mind to free yourself of deep-seated and festering wounds, then within your family to allow your love to flow, and within your community by offering your time, skills, talents and resources to truly be the change you wish to see in the world.
One action I am committed to is to share information with you about websites and groups that are taking a stand for a more peaceful world. I encourage you to visit these sites:
www.5WWC.org (5th Women’s World Conference – yes, men are invited and encouraged to participate!), www.standingwomen.org (taking a stand on Mother’s Day for peace in the world) and www.kiva.org (provides you with micro-lending opportunities throughout the world).
You are welcome to reprint this article with the following information at the conclusion of the text:
Susyn Reeve M.Ed. and Sheri Rosenthal DPM are co-authors of WITH Forgiveness - Are You Ready? and co-creators of the WITH Forgiveness program at www.withforgivenessmovie.com. They both enjoy giving workshops, lectures and taking folks on spiritual journeys (you can see them at www.journeysofthespirit.com ), and being extremely happy! You can reach them at www.withforgiveness.com.
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