The importance of forgiveness

Some people have a hard time forgiving or letting go because doing so feels like letting the offender off the hook. But the reward for getting past your ego’s objection to forgiveness is emotional freedom. Carrying a grudge is like carrying around poison and waiting to throw it. Carrying it doesn’t punish the guilty, and it doesn’t do you any good either.

Most decisions aren’t forever

One fact that should be comforting when facing a stressful decision is that MOST decisions you’ll make in life are reversible. You can change jobs or even careers; you can move to the house down the street or to another continent; you can even remove that tattoo with your ex’s name! This isn’t to say that we should take consequential decisions lightly. It’s a reminder that the decision to walk through a door doesn’t mean it closes and locks behind us.

Practicing what you preach

Ancient stoic practices help you walk the talk about things people tend to say, but perhaps not live up to:

– “I don’t care what people think” – Wear odd clothing in public that draws negative attention and reflect on how trivial it is to worry about what others think

– “I don’t do nice things to take credit” – Anonymously buy lunch for a stranger or the person behind you in line

– “Material things aren’t important” – Assign days where you don’t make purchases, overeat, wear nice clothes, or live in abundance, all the while asking yourself “is this the condition I so feared?”

“Practice” implies making it a habit.  We are what we do, not what we say we are.