A while back I read about experiments with plants where love and praise was lavishly given or withheld. In the studies, each family was given a plant and asked to keep it on their kitchen table where it would be seen frequently by all member of the family. Half of the families were asked to praise and give love to the plants each time they entered the room. "I love you. You are beautiful. You are magnificent. You are a wonderful addition to our home."
The other families were asked to scold and ignore the plant. "I hate you. You are ugly. Why are you even here?"
What happened? The loved plants flourished and the despised plants died. Yes, they DIED!
Let's talk for a moment about what happens to others when we either refuse to forgive or we forgive them (in tomorrow's post I will talk about what happens to ourselves). If we choose to judge others harshly, they do suffer. Everyone of us knows how it feels to be in someone's bad graces. This suffering also happens on an unseen level. Whether they know consciously that we are not forgiving them, they do know sub-consciously. Remember that only a small part of our awareness is conscious. The much bigger part of us is sub-conscious. Just like the plants, any people we choose not to forgive will suffer.
On the other hand, when we choose to forgive, they heal. Consciously, they may not know why, and we may not know why, but when we forgive others it changes them. Forgiveness means focusing loving feelings towards others. Love changes everything.
In The Hidden Messages of Water, Dr. Emoto proved that thoughts and feelings affect physical reality. "By producing different focused intentions through written and spoken words and music and literally presenting it to the same water samples, the water appears to change its expression." --What the Bleep Do We Know?
Water Crystals Given Love and Gratitude
Water Crystals Played Heavy Metal Music
We may think that holding grievances is a harmless, neutral act, but it is not. When we refuse to forgive, we are actually HARMING others.
I really don't want to be that person. I don't want to harm anyone, really, even annoying people. I can see clearly that it is my job just get over it! I must not allow myself to feel provoked, injured or even annoyed by anyone because I don't want to do harm.
Join me in non-violent thought!
