=Can you forgive and accept the whole world?
Several months ago, I began a daily practice of using affirmations from a Course in Miracles workbook. One of the affirmations was,
“I forgive the world.”
When I read this, tears came to my eyes and I felt deep relief. I realized I had mistakenly assumed the responsibility of saving the entire world. I unconsciously believed that if I could just join the right organization, write the right article, find the most powerful words, reach the right people, I could fix all the hatred, miscommunication, and cruelty in the world. As one small human, this was clearly beyond my power!
The Tool of Forgiveness
For quite a while now, forgiveness has been a powerful tool for myself and my clients and students to move through misunderstandings and find a peaceful heart. I have been doing a daily meditation in which I forgive myself, people I love, even people I actively dislike, a process I’ve taught to clients as well. A few years ago, I added political parties, bureaucracies, and institutions that I have resentments toward. But it had never before occurred to me to follow the same practice for the planet.
Blessing and Embracing the World
And so, I started sending love, blessings, and forgiveness to the whole world, just as I taught and practiced with individuals.
As I did this daily, I began to envision the world as a beautiful small globe that I could pick up, hug lovingly, and hand off to a Divine Presence, one much more capable than I to heal the world.
Then, as I heard horrible news stories about events in parts of the US and the rest of the world—teenagers murdered, beaches poisoned, earthquakes causing devastation, governments failing to take action to prevent atrocities or protect human rights, I began giving kisses to places on the globe that seemed to need extra love and attention that day.
Healing and repairing your small corner of the World
There is a Hebrew expression, Tikkun Olam, which means the healing or repair of the world. In the Jewish tradition, we each have a responsibility to do our part. For me, gently giving the planet to its Sacred Guardian, releases me from overwhelm and defensive despair. I am freed to do what healing I can in my own small corner of the world – within myself, with people I love, and with anyone who crosses my path.
And, I can to bring this same spirit to my teaching and coaching work around communication and conflict resolution in workplaces. As I do this, I am connected to all those on the planet who, with loving kindness and compassion, are working to heal conflict, hatred, and separation.
Lorraine Segal is a certified Conflict Management coach and teacher, specializing in communication, forgiveness, and conflict resolution in the workplace. For many years a tenured community college professor, she currently teaches at Sonoma State University and St. Joseph Health Life Learning Center at Memorial Hospital and has her own business, Conflict Remedy LLC. In her workplace consulting, classes, and coaching, she helps managers and work groups get “unstuck” from negative stories, shift their patterns of thinking and reacting so they can communicate clearly and resolve conflict effectively.