Working with Intentions to Assist the Journey of Forgiveness
Instructor: Duanita G. Eleniak, MSW RCSW ATR BCATR RCAT PhD
An Online Course in Forgiveness was written to answer your
question “How do I forgive?” The course intention is to help you experience answers to your question
by teaching about forgiveness and showing you effective ways to work with daily intentions and images
to assist this mysterious process to be as graceful and easy as possible for you.
1. Introduction
A. The Goals of Forgiveness
B. Keys to Forgiveness
1) Willingness
2) Take Responsibility for Change
2. Move through Barriers to Forgiveness
A. Waiting for An Apology
B. Unwillingness to Forgive
C. Remaining a Victim: Blaming Behaviour
D. Misunderstandings Regarding Pardoning Behaviour
3. Create and Hold the Intention to Forgive
4. The Inner Dance of Forgiveness
A. Remain Aware of your Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviours
B. Run your Intention Like a Mantra to Short Circuit Unforgiveness
5. Recognize the Grace of Release
A. Signs of Assistance from a Responsive Universe
B. Signs of Forgiveness
6. Conclusion
A. The Research on Forgiveness
Preface 1: Work with Daily Images of Forgiveness
Preface 2: Work with Daily Images of Forgiveness
Seven advantages of working with images in conjunction with word intentions
are given to inspire you to work with both word and image.
I Introduction: How Do I Forgive
An introduction to A Course in Forgiveness with emphasis on how working with
daily intentions can be a potent force to speed recovery to the sense of peace and joy that
forgiveness can bring.
A common block preventing forgiveness is unwillingness to do the work
necessary to forgive. This block is explained and examples of daily intentions are given to help you move
through it.
“Vengeance is having a videotape planted in your soul that cannot be turned off. It plays the painful scene over and over again inside your mind... And each time it plays you feel the clap of pain again... Forgiving turns off the videotape of pained memory. Forgiving sets you free.”
You are taught how to recognize if you are being caught in a blame cycle which
prevents you from forgiving. An exercise is given that can help you stop blaming and begin taking
responsibility for the changes that you want in your life.
“Resentment or grudges do no harm to the person against whom you hold these feelings but every day and every night of your life, they are eating at you”
A common misconception is addressed to help you see that forgiving situations is
very different than pardoning or even implying that what happened was okay in any way.
“When we forgive evil we do not excuse it, we do not tolerate it, we do not smother it. We look the evil full in the face, call it what it is, let its horror shock and stun and enrage us, and only then do we forgive it.”
A powerful intention regarding forgiveness is introduced and suggestions are
given regarding modifying it to ensure that it resonates with you at exactly the point you are at.
“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”
The inner dance of forgiveness is described. You are taught how to become aware of
yourself and to intercept thoughts and feelings connected with unforgiveness by running your intention
continuously in your head until you catch yourself thinking about something else.
“Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.”
Hannah Arendt quotes (German born American Philosopher and Political scientist. 1906-1975)
VII Naming the Details to Forgive
A powerful exercise is given to assist you to clear any thoughts, memories and
stories associated with the painful events connected to the areas that you need to forgive in your life.
“Hanging onto
resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head”
Examples of signs are given that might occur to leave you with no doubt that the
intentions you are sending out into the Universe regarding forgiveness are being received.
“You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.”
Summary of content with emphasis on how helpful it can be to work with daily
intentions when you take on the challenge of learning forgiveness.
“Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of
resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of
resentment are forgotten.”
Buddha quotes (Hindu
Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)
