Forgiveness is a choice

I had used a phrase, “To err is human” in my previous post. The complete phrase is “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” Recently I read a book, “Forgiveness Is aChoice” by Robert D. Enright, a self-help book filled with wisdom and warm encouragement, demonstrating how taking the path of forgiveness can benefit a person in his/her life.

The concept of forgiveness and building of trust amongst individuals is likely to renovate many a relationships and families. As a result of reading this book I have committed myself to greater amount of self-acceptance and emotional maturity, due to which I have sort of enabled myself to forgive people who had hurt me.

Forgiveness helps in reducing a person’s anxiety and depression, at the same time increasing self-esteem and hopefulness toward one's future. Each human being has been endowed with the innate ability to forgive. One just needs to explore this by themselves. Many people who are angry at a loved one who hurt them feel guilty for their unconscious violent impulses. When persons forgive, their fear and guilt is automatically reduced. Forgiving does not require denying the fact that we have been hurt. In order to forgive, one has to admit that he/she was hurt and has a right to feel hurt, angry or resentful. 

Happiness lies within you

Explore your self

Happiness is subjective; you may have everything in life and not be happy about it at all. On the other hand, you may nothing left in life, but still may be happy. Human beings are destined to be happy, but it depends on an individual whether he/she take their lives towards happiness by their own choice. Someone has rightly said, happiness cannot be bought from the market.  It lies within you. You just need to get up and explore it.

Rejoice with nature

Nature can serve as the greatest source of happiness. Happiness can be perceived through small things, chirping of birds, falling of raindrops, the rising sun, a small flower bud developing into a flower, dew drops on a blade of grass. If you are able to find happiness from these small things, you shall never have the time to feel sad. What makes my day is the fragrance of the wet mud, when the raindrops first fall on the hot scorching ground.

Do a good deed everyday

In today’s stressful lifestyle, we tend to get so engrossed in ourselves and our lives that we tend to ignore the happiness and joy that already lies around us. Out of your busy lifestyle, try taking out some time to do a good deal everyday, it will definitely make you feel happy. It does not have to be something very big. It could be as small as feeding a hungry street dog, keeping a bowl filled with water on the terrace or balcony of your house so that the thirsty birds can come and sip the water from there.

Stop the rat race

The most important cause of frustration and unhappiness is that everyone wants to be a part of the rat race. In the struggle of showing themselves better or superior to others, people often tend to forget themselves. Every individual is a unique creation of the Almighty having their own set of imperfections and assets. Just as people accept their accomplishments, they must also learn to accept their failures.

To err is human

In the race of being a perfectionist, we often forget that it is natural for all human beings to make mistakes. Making a mistake is not important. What is more important is learning to identify that mistake so that you do not repeat it in future. 

Father lead me

Just like anything good or important should begin with on an auspicious note, I thought of posting a small prayer which I had learnt in my childhood, probably in the nursery.

“Father lead me day by day ever in thy own sweet way. Teach me to be pure and good. Tell me what I ought to do.”

−Amen 

This prayer had always been special because it had always reminded me of my father. I think we address the Gods above as father but we have never seen Him.  Since He cannot individually come to each one of us, He sends His representatives in form of individuals whom we address as daddy, papa etc. 

This prayer had always been special because it had always reminded me of my father. I think we address the Gods above as father but we have never seen Him.  Since He cannot individually come to each one of us, He sends His representatives in form of individuals whom we address as daddy, papa etc. 

That’s my papa