A friend called me the other day and began the conversation with an apology. It caught me by surprise, perhaps because I couldn’t remember the incident in question. It didn’t take long to realize that whatever this was, it was weighing quite heavily on his mind and he felt it was time to make amends. Asking for forgiveness by way of an apology is not an easy thing to do, yet anyone on their death bead will tell you, it is something that really has to be done to achieve inner peace. Not everyone has the chance to have these death bed moments, which makes these times of resolution all the more important while we are quite alive. Making peace within ourselves, by making peace with others is an essential (but often neglected) part of the human journey. It is fear that blocks many people from seeking this level of peace with others, yet it is this same fear that needs to be resolved to achieve inner peace. Making amends is one of many ways to domesticate the ego, a stress management technique we all need to do on a regular basis. And… when we are on the receiving end of the apology, domesticating the ego is also in order, for holding grudges only perpetuates stress and that is no way to live a life of inner peace.
• Stress Tip For The Day:
Is there someone whom you wish to make peace with, but have held back due to fear? As the expression goes, there is no time like the present to act. Making amends is one of the 12 steps in AA, as well as many other self-help programs (please see/read links below). Perhaps more importantly, making amends is one of the essential steps in seeking inner peace and enhancing one’s spiritual growth. Seeking forgiveness with others may result in some pleasant surprises. It many also produce few, if any results. But as we clear our conscience of our misdeeds (and learn from the experience), indeed, w make the world a better place.
• Links/Books Worth Noting:
Before you pick up the phone or hit the send button on that email or Facebook update, please read these links on the art of making amends:
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/has70305.page
http://www.ehow.com/how_2075102_make-amends-mistakes.html
http://www.innerself.com/Spirituality/bastis_madeline_01184.htm
• Quotes for the Day:
“It is the highest form of self-respect to admit our errors and mistakes and make amends for them. To make a mistake is only an error in judgment, but to adhere to it when it is discovered shows infirmity of character.” —Dale E. Turner
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. ” ~John Powell
• Photo of the Day:
A sunrise photo of my last day in Bora Bora a few weeks ago. Enjoy!
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
