There are a few people in the world with whom I’m good and mad. I find elements of their behavior to be atrocious and I cannot understand how they can operate in the world this way. In the past, prior to my awakening, I would have broadcast their horrible actions in great detail to friends. Something along the lines of, “Can you believe that they [fill in the blank]…” to which my friends would be appropriately horrified and completely agree with my point of view. It would have been satisfying for a moment, but the toxicity of the anger would still circulate within me.
A few days ago I was watching a YouTube video of a TIME Magazine reporter interviewing His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a segment called, “10 Questions for the Dalai Lama.” He was asked, “Do you ever feel angry or outraged?” He replied, “Oh, yes, of course. I’m a human being. Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something’s wrong. He’s not right in the brain.”
He reminded me that it’s OK to feel anger.
And yet, what comes next is the true challenge. Anger can be like a bitterness that breeds inside our own consciousness. Anger always demands its payment first from the bearer. You cannot foster anger and let it age like a fine wine without bringing toxicity into the landscape of your own consciousness.
So what are we to do?
This morning, as I was ruminating over the actions of some people that are my current targets of anger, I asked the angels for help. Their recommendation? To close my eyes and send them love for a few minutes. Uh-oh, that’s not easy to do… especially when I feel so justified in my point of view. “That’s the whole point…” say the angels.
So I tried it. I sat at my desk, closed my eyes and began broadcasting love to the first person. I could feel my ego trying to shutter my heart and recount the damage they have brought to the situation. The angels supported me in continuing the broadcast. They say, “The love is not only for them, but it is for you, too. You are not excusing or approving of their behavior. Rather you are surrounding the whole situation with love. This is the greatest healing you can bring to this situation.”
Drs. Ron & Mary Hulnick at the University of Santa Monica teach to go inward and repeat say, “I love you, God bless you.”
It’s amazing how quickly this begins to shift the energy.
So if you, like me, are harboring anger towards others today. Even if you are surely justified in how you feel. Try broadcasting love and forgiveness to the situation. Forgiveness is not about saying that what happened is OK. But rather it is about liberating yourself from the threads of judgment that can hold you hostage to a darkness you no longer wish to experience.
This is a forgiveness meditation adapted from a process given to me by another teacher.
Visualize yourself ascending into a healing sanctuary with your higher self and the higher self of the other person. With the healing light of God surrounding you, visualize yourself saying the following:
I love you, God Bless you.
I forgive you, I forgive me.
I release you, I release me.
Go with God.
Namaste…and then watch the other person walk away. Then allow yourself to slowly return. Repeat the process if necessary. Chances are you will begin to feel a shift immediately.
As you allow yourself freedom, so will you make room in your life for brighter adventures that bring you joy. I don’t know about you, but I’m hopping on the JOY train today! Enough of the old stories. I now declare them complete!