Anger has not been an easy emotion for us. We get angry when we are passed over for promotions. We get angry when no one listens. We get angry when our ideas are not heard and even angrier when these same ideas are declared "fantastic" when one of our colleagues presents them. We get angry when we are so strung out and exhausted that we find ourselves yelling at those we love the most. Then we become angry about being angry, and we try to "control ourselves".

It is important to remember that feelings are just that…. feelings. It is normal for us to have feelings, and it is normal for us to feel anger. Anger is only harmful when it is held in. When we hold it in, it builds and we find ourselves exploding on innocent people in the most astounding circumstances. Then we end up feeling bad about ourselves and getting anger backlash from others. We need to find safe places to let our anger out. We can respect our anger. It is our friend. It lets us know when something is wrong.

Adapted from: Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much

Closing Words

To ache with my own forgiveness is to be wholly accepting of myself. None of us is without the need for forgiveness. We have all done injury to those closest to us. We hurt those we love the most. We hurt ourselves when we hurt those we love. When we are preparing to make amends to others, we must first make amends to ourselves and forgive ourselves for the wrongs we have done. Only then can we be truly forgiven by others.

There is, indeed, a beauty in our forgiveness of ourselves. We can be simple, direct and without fanfare in our forgiveness of ourselves.

Adapted from: Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much