Diana's Healing Message for April

April is a very special month for me for it’s my birthday month!  I was actually born on Easter Sunday and believe my faith is what enabled me to survive my traumatic childhood and forgive.

Forgiveness was necessary for me to continue in my path of healing.  I may not always be able to forget, but if I forgive it opens the doors to my healing.  Forgiveness is never ever easy and it is a work in process.  For me, forgiveness was easier because my abuser father, was dying from cancer, so I found it in my heart to forgive him.

Here are 8 things that have helped me to forgive the people who have hurt me.

1.     Get mad, feel hurt and grieve

2.     Ask myself whether my anger is constructive or destructive

3.     Don’t worry – forgiving is not saying the offense was okay

4.     Practice stress-reduction techniques

5.     Remind myself why I want this person in my life

6.     Set boundaries

7.     Recognize that I am telling a story that can be changed

8.     Make myself the hero

Diana