June/July 2025 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 34

Emotions are often layered. Anger might be hiding sadness; frustration might mask a sense of rejection. By peeling back these layers, we create a safe space for healing to take root.

Reflect on your feelings regarding a painful event. Identify the emotions— hurt, anger, sadness, disappointment— that need to be acknowledged before they can be released.

ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT, YET ESSENTIAL, PARTS OF FORGIVENESS IS ACCEPTANCE.

Often, we resist reality, replaying past events and wishing things had unfolded differently. But healing begins when we acknowledge the truth of what has happened without trying to change it.

After my divorce, I spent months in denial. I kept wishing things had turned out differently, resisting the truth that my marriage was over.

One day, while reflecting on a simple phrase— It is what it is— I realized that my resistance was only deepening my pain. Acceptance does not mean approval; it means freeing ourselves from the struggle against reality so we can begin to move forward.

Acknowledge the facts of your painful experience. If resistance arises, remind yourself that acceptance is not about agreeing with what happened— it is about recognizing reality so that healing can begin.