With Forgiveness: The Art of Forgiving, How to Forgive and be Forgiven

Are We Ever Truly Victims? (272 words)
by Sheri Rosenthal, DPM

One of the reasons why forgiveness is so challenging is because most humans have a subconscious belief that people can hurt us. As long as we subscribe to this belief we will always feel like we need to defend ourselves from the actions and words of others – and as a result we make ourselves the victim of others.

The truth is people do what they are going to do and it isn’t always what we wish, want or hope for. If we understand this then we can make the choice not to take the words and deeds of others personally. People are responsible for saying and doing hurtful things, but we understand that in that moment they are ignorant of the reasons why they are behaving that way (they are afraid of something and projecting their fear and anger outward). We can only be hurt by others if we believe they can hurt us.

For example, someone can hit me, but they cannot hurt me emotionally unless I chose to use their actions to get myself upset with a made-up story of injustice. Let’s stop telling stories that turn us into victims and realize that we are always co-creating our reality. If we truly believe that we are divine, then how can a divine being be a victim of anything?

Either you will live life as a victim, always on the defense, living with your heart closed, with no compassion for others – or you will live life as the divine being that you are, living with your heart open, always having compassion for the unawareness of others. It is ultimately your choice…

You are welcome to reprint this article with the following information at the conclusion of the text:
Sheri Rosenthal DPM and Susyn Reeve M.Ed. 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.