20 FORGIVE, FORGET AND BE FREE
If you haven’t forgiven your parents,
you haven’t left home.
Anon.
“
”
If you catch yourself blaming anyone else for the way you are now, say
‘Stop!’ and repeat the following affirmations until the blaming thoughts
have gone away:
‘I, and no one else, am in charge of my life.’
‘From now on I no longer blame anyone else for anything
I dislike about myself.’
134
Make a list of all the people who have hurt you, let you down, lied or
cheated on you in the past. If possible find a photograph of them. Beside
each name write down why you included them.
135
Review your list. As you contemplate each name, look at their photo or
make an image of them in your mind. Really feelyour hurt and/or anger.
Then, whatever they did to you, or you imagine they did to you, let it
go. Say with sincerity, ‘I forgive you. From now on I send only love.’
136
Imagine your father or male parent figure in the Empty Chair (see
Confidence Builder 129). Tell him everything you’ve withheld from
him down the years – resentments, frustrations, etc. Then switch seats
and be him, responding to you, and keep switching chairs until you’ve
exhausted the discussion.
137
