What does forgiveness have to do with producing my best work, anyway?!
I've been asked about this again and again: "I'm a successful business person, more or less, so why do I need to think about forgiving past hurts?"
Well, it's that "less" part that speaks volumes. Too many people are content with less than their magnificent best.
Here are three bottom line questions you must answer:
Are you as successful (however you define) as you can or would like to be?
Do you sense something blocking your brilliance and your output?
Do you think you are in the creative flow of your life? (as some would say, are you in the zone?)
I've thought about and revisited these questions again and again. Recovering from a series of horrendous childhood events - sexual abuse, forced me to face the demons of my success and productivity. In a way, I'm grateful for my childhood because I went places - emotionally and psychologically - and figured some things out that I may never have had the need to think about. Why people excel and how excess emotional baggage can limit success and creativity are topics I've learned a thing or two about - the research, the degrees, the depressions and lost income, the redemption and the salvation have all come together to release me and set me free.
Now I'm helping others to do the same thing; be released and freed up to be their true magnificent, successful self.
Let's take a deeper look at why even a successful person would want to forgive past hurts.
The principle that connects forgiveness to productivity is Self-Efficacy.
Self-efficacy is about getting your work done….whatever that work is at a particular time in your life.
Taking care of and growing your business is a fundamental requirement for living. As adults we need to take care of our homes, our businesses and our communities.
How well we take care of things determines our state of mind. For some, a lack of productivity is a very painful place to be. Beating up oneself is common practice among those who procrastinate, for instance. There’s a feeling of failure that surrounds the inability to accomplish specific tasks.
What does this all lead to? Unfortunately reactions are not compartmentalized. They spill over into the rest of your life.
Bad feelings about not getting a specific project completed create more generalized bad feelings about other work that would otherwise be a breeze.
So suddenly what started as just an over-reaction to one task or project not getting accomplished, grows into a type of despondency and snow-balling that literally takes up too much space in your brain and in your life.
The key then of the self-efficacy principle is to get those things you deem important done. Get them done in a timely fashion. Or else, you find yourself using up space in your brain and in your life that could be put to productive use elsewhere.
I was stuck in this pattern. Feeling bad because I was under-producing and of course, feeling bad about feeling bad. I had to go deeper and deeper to figure out why I was under-producing to get to the truth of the situation, not just the emotions of it all.
I kept coming back to a familiar place of psychic pain and often numbness. So what do I do to get rid of that? All right answers pointed to: Feel it, go through it and then release it! I really wanted to be a forgiving person. My true faith in God was even in question, if I held on to the pain. I wanted to release the baggage. All the research and spiritual insight demanded it but it wasn't happening. So what did I do? Started feeling bad and guilty about not forgiving. What a cycle of self-abuse!
Again, this act of not getting something done created another layer of negative emotion towards the act itself.
Instead of becoming motivated to accomplish this important forgiving action, I actually got demotivated. Interrupting this cycle was critical.
How do you interrupt a pattern of not taking an action? Nike was on to something: Just do it!
You interrupt the negative emotional cycle by getting the thing done!!
This is the best way to re-allocate that space in your life and in your brain. Get the forgiveness out of the way and the negative emotions attached to the lack of a forgiving action on your part just melts away.
Also, the space that’s been used for memories of this pain, anger over the insult, outrage over the slight…imagine using this space for creative ideas, project development and for loving others.
Your energies will then be diverted towards projects and activities that bring lasting joy, prosperity and peace to your life. <<<goose bumps>>> You will be in harmony with the divine flow of creativity!
Now that’s self-efficacy. Making yourself efficacious…making yourself productive. Forgive a person and get productive...not just 'ordinary' productive but 'outrageous' productive. You will produce at the magnificent level that matches your magnificent purpose in life.
There’s a causal relationship between forgiving and producing. Whether it’s producing great work or great play, or great love….when you release pain and guilt and bad memories, you create space for other wonderful things to get done. Here comes those goose bumps again!
So if you'd like to see a sudden spike in your productivity think about what you have not released, of what could be blocking your creativity pipes.
Forgive somebody today and watch your productivity soar!
Start small...anyone annoyed you today that you can practice with?
What do you think? Have you had the experience of letting something go and then having a burst of creativity? Share it here and help someone else make that leap today. Do you think there are some exceptions, and not everything is forgivable? I would love to hear your thoughts.
In Light and With Love,
Julette Millien
Well, it's that "less" part that speaks volumes. Too many people are content with less than their magnificent best.
Here are three bottom line questions you must answer:
Are you as successful (however you define) as you can or would like to be?
Do you sense something blocking your brilliance and your output?
Do you think you are in the creative flow of your life? (as some would say, are you in the zone?)
I've thought about and revisited these questions again and again. Recovering from a series of horrendous childhood events - sexual abuse, forced me to face the demons of my success and productivity. In a way, I'm grateful for my childhood because I went places - emotionally and psychologically - and figured some things out that I may never have had the need to think about. Why people excel and how excess emotional baggage can limit success and creativity are topics I've learned a thing or two about - the research, the degrees, the depressions and lost income, the redemption and the salvation have all come together to release me and set me free.
Now I'm helping others to do the same thing; be released and freed up to be their true magnificent, successful self.
Let's take a deeper look at why even a successful person would want to forgive past hurts.
The principle that connects forgiveness to productivity is Self-Efficacy.
Self-efficacy is about getting your work done….whatever that work is at a particular time in your life.
Taking care of and growing your business is a fundamental requirement for living. As adults we need to take care of our homes, our businesses and our communities.
How well we take care of things determines our state of mind. For some, a lack of productivity is a very painful place to be. Beating up oneself is common practice among those who procrastinate, for instance. There’s a feeling of failure that surrounds the inability to accomplish specific tasks.
What does this all lead to? Unfortunately reactions are not compartmentalized. They spill over into the rest of your life.
Bad feelings about not getting a specific project completed create more generalized bad feelings about other work that would otherwise be a breeze.
So suddenly what started as just an over-reaction to one task or project not getting accomplished, grows into a type of despondency and snow-balling that literally takes up too much space in your brain and in your life.
The key then of the self-efficacy principle is to get those things you deem important done. Get them done in a timely fashion. Or else, you find yourself using up space in your brain and in your life that could be put to productive use elsewhere.
I was stuck in this pattern. Feeling bad because I was under-producing and of course, feeling bad about feeling bad. I had to go deeper and deeper to figure out why I was under-producing to get to the truth of the situation, not just the emotions of it all.
I kept coming back to a familiar place of psychic pain and often numbness. So what do I do to get rid of that? All right answers pointed to: Feel it, go through it and then release it! I really wanted to be a forgiving person. My true faith in God was even in question, if I held on to the pain. I wanted to release the baggage. All the research and spiritual insight demanded it but it wasn't happening. So what did I do? Started feeling bad and guilty about not forgiving. What a cycle of self-abuse!
Again, this act of not getting something done created another layer of negative emotion towards the act itself.
Instead of becoming motivated to accomplish this important forgiving action, I actually got demotivated. Interrupting this cycle was critical.
How do you interrupt a pattern of not taking an action? Nike was on to something: Just do it!
You interrupt the negative emotional cycle by getting the thing done!!
This is the best way to re-allocate that space in your life and in your brain. Get the forgiveness out of the way and the negative emotions attached to the lack of a forgiving action on your part just melts away.
Also, the space that’s been used for memories of this pain, anger over the insult, outrage over the slight…imagine using this space for creative ideas, project development and for loving others.
Your energies will then be diverted towards projects and activities that bring lasting joy, prosperity and peace to your life. <<<goose bumps>>> You will be in harmony with the divine flow of creativity!
Now that’s self-efficacy. Making yourself efficacious…making yourself productive. Forgive a person and get productive...not just 'ordinary' productive but 'outrageous' productive. You will produce at the magnificent level that matches your magnificent purpose in life.
There’s a causal relationship between forgiving and producing. Whether it’s producing great work or great play, or great love….when you release pain and guilt and bad memories, you create space for other wonderful things to get done. Here comes those goose bumps again!
So if you'd like to see a sudden spike in your productivity think about what you have not released, of what could be blocking your creativity pipes.
Forgive somebody today and watch your productivity soar!
Start small...anyone annoyed you today that you can practice with?
What do you think? Have you had the experience of letting something go and then having a burst of creativity? Share it here and help someone else make that leap today. Do you think there are some exceptions, and not everything is forgivable? I would love to hear your thoughts.
In Light and With Love,
Julette Millien
What a wonderful blog!!!! I needed this especially today. Forgiving is not always easy to accomplish but, is much needed to succeed in life. I have been in relationships with friends and family members that have hurt me very deeply.Unforgiveness has slowed my productivity and creativity in my career and personal life. Even though I believe in God and know the Bible says to forgive others as God has forgiven us......it takes that extra step and a made up mind to do it!!!! I have forgiven people in the pass, but lately bigger hurts and people who I thought would never hurt me has made it much harder to release it. I know God desires more from me, therefore I have to release all negative energy done unto me to fill it up with positive energy. Today is a good day to start releasing!!! I have felt the outcome of forgiving others and I feels really good. I challenge myself and others to forgive one thing a person has done to you in exchange for peace and self-fulfillment.
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Thanks for sharing from the heart about forgiveness. Very good point and information about truly going through the process of forgiveness. Enjoyed reading this blog post.
Keep it up!
Kim Beasley
http://KimBeasley.com
http://ProMembershipServices.com
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Julette, Your Post on forgiveness reminds me of JEREMIAH 31:33-37. Because of what God demonstrated at the cross teaches us that our heart belonging to God Our Father. He saturate our hearts in His Word so that we can accomplish His purpose of life in which He prepared us all. Praise the LORD. Be Blessed always...Peace!
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Julette -- I adore the Divine Synchronicity that has brought us together at this time -- in this sacred moment. I especially like the part of your post and completely agree with you -- that in forgiving -- we release the pain, the procrastination, the PROBLEM -- and then -- WHOO HOO! - we have all that space to CREATE MIRACLES! The act of forgiving oneself or another is a miracle itself -- but for me Grace truly steps in to fill the space we have created with Wondrous Adventures! Thank you so much for sharing!
Blesssings and Infinite Love & Gratitude,
Stephanie Bell the Spirit Coach
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Shantel!
This made my day! Your honesty and hard work on your spiritual development is impressive.
A made up mind for sure...you're so right. You can't approach forgiveness with anything but that. Can't depend on your feelings or your sense of what's "fair."
I love that you ended with a challenge to all and yes, today is a good day to release!
I am so proud of you and I happen to know that you've got some smiling angels taking care of you.
Love you, aj
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Thank you for stopping in and leaving a comment Kim! Very much appreciated
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Hello Jim,
Thank you for this scripture. I read it and was touched by the power of the message. "...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" Jeremiah 31:34
Not only will He forgive us, He won't even remember the sin. How many times have we wished someone would just forget our mistake?
Thank you for directing me to this word.
And also for your own word of support and blessings.
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Hi Stephanie,
I know! It is Divine Synchronicity isn't it? You are a forgiveness hero I know, so I know you have walked this talk.
Thank you for sharing and for being a living example of right living.
It is about creating space isn't it? The miracles take place when we've created the divine space for them to exist.
I look forward so much to our connection.
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Hi Julette,
This is Chris's friend... I had to laugh when I saw your message; we just got back from vacation and I've been working on forgiveness with my son; he just turned 18 and announced that he is grown and no longer needs me or my rules... boy how so NOT easy to literally smack some sense into his head... but I'm praying on it with the help of a little book called Praying God's Will for my Son. Your message was reassurance that I am to forgive the child and wait for him to tell me one day; 'ya kno... the older I get the smarter my mom is...' Of course, that'll be when he has an 18 year old telling him guess what... I'm GROWN!!! Stay Blessed.
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Forgiving is not always easy to accomplish but, is much needed to succeed in life. I have been in relationships with friends and family members that have hurt me very deeply.Unforgiveness has slowed my productivity and creativity in my career and personal life. Even though I believe in God and know the Bible says to forgive others as God has forgiven us......it takes that extra step and a made up mind to do it!!!! I have forgiven people in the pass, but lately bigger hurts and people who I thought would never hurt me has made it much harder to release it. I know God desires more from me, therefore I have to release all negative energy done unto me to fill it up with positive energy. Today is a good day to start releasing!!!
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