Chapter 14 Forgiveness and Gratitude A formidable force The previous two chapters have unveiled to you not only the absolute benefits of forgiveness and gratitude,
But also introduced a number of simple yet powerful exercises that follow a similar approach.
You are encouraged to begin and finish each day with a gentle focus on appreciating all that you have,
Whilst looking for opportunities to show and practice a compassionate outlook towards yourself and others.
Just those few minutes spent each day alone will have an amazingly positive effect on how you feel and approach life's journey.
They will create a subtle yet exciting shift within you,
As compassion sets your intention on what you can do for others,
Whilst lessening your expectation of what life owes you,
At the same time helping you to finally realise how fortunate you are reduces your need for always wanting more.
Each chapter also offers you an opportunity to develop forgiveness and gratitude at any time of the day towards a specific subject.
Until this point you will have used them in isolation but combined they have a tremendous potential to bring peace to any situation.
In this wonderfully simple but liberating exercise you gently allow your compassionate approach to the person or situation to cleanse and remove your negative thoughts and emotions that have been attached to it.
This then creates a space for you to actually find the gift that is available for you in every situation.
Once again take a plain piece of paper.
At the top of the page in inverted commas write the person's name you wish to forgive.
As with the previous exercises draw a heart on your page and make a horizontal line through its centre.
Working below the line revisit how your forgiveness will benefit you,
A wonderful reminder that you don't have to hold on.
Once you feel that this is complete write I forgive you at the bottom of the page.
Let above the line become a realisation that there is a blessing,
Something to give thanks for in every situation and let your pen flow in gratitude.
Once you have finished simply write thank you below the person's name.
And it is done.
In a short space of time you have taken something that weakens you and worked through it to liberate and empower yourself to move on from it.
