From The Book of Joy page 234.
Forgiveness, the Archbishop added, is the only way to heal ourselves into being free from the past. Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us. We are bound to the chains of bitterness, tied together, trapped. Until we forgive the person who has harmed us, that person will hold the keys to our happiness, that person will be our jailor. When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and our feelings. We become our own liberator.
I am working on this for myself: forgiveness, compassion for others. For example, on that drive to work, I’m no longer rushing to get there. I no longer mind it if someone cuts me off in traffic, seeking a momentary advantage. “Wow, he is an amazing driver; I’m sure he/she really needed to get there sooner. I hope he/she has a better day. I’m already having a great day.”
It helps that another one of my secret weapons in my search for peacefulness is my iPhone linked by bluetooth to my car, playing either a podcast (Hidden Brain, Planet Money, TED radio hour, RadioLab, Levar Burton Reads, or HBR ideacast), or a book from Audible.com.
I’m a sci-fi nut, if you didn’t get that already from my previous book reviews, and nothing is better than a long, sometimes multi-hour drive between hospitals during the CMIO’s journey, to listen to a great book. I try to alternate a non-fiction book with my sci-fi, but I always have one ready when I need to unwind.
Remember: those coming on the journey: 3 minutes of meditation every day! I’m holding both of us accountable to this important habit!
CMIO’s take? Be your own liberator.
Nice read. Trying to work on the same thing myself. If you have not read already, I would recommend “Holographic Universe” by Michael Talbot. Old book, but one my favorites.