Trigger Question #72:
I have two heavy questions for you. Who annoyed you? Who let you down?
Why are those “heavy” questions? Because if you don’t deal with them enlightenedly, they will weigh you down.
How do you do “enlightenedly”? Two steps. Forgive and lighten up.
Forgive does not mean “let off the hook” or “fuhgeddaboudit.” At least not at work. At home (your family) and out-and-about (the idiot who cut you off), yes, just forgive and forget. As quickly and completely as you can.
But not at work. At work, forgiveness must always pair with “how do we prevent this from happening again?”
Forgiveness only works for you if you also put it down. Quickly. Make yourself lighter before the heaviness of anger and regret takes hold. History is already heavy. Don’t add to your history that which you need not remember.
Yes, remember the bits that can enlighten you. Remember what can make you smarter and wiser. But don’t remember the anger that (almost) weighed you down.
Forgive and lighten up. Or, if you prefer, lighten up and forgive.
Now, find your copy of He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother by The Hollies, put it on and crank up the volume. Or maybe you have the Neil Diamond version. (You don’t have a copy? Well, I forgive you. But only this once.)
Welcome to my side of the nonsense divide.
. . .