They say that forgiveness is an attribute of the strong; that it’s a difficult process that takes great healing. I’m not sure. I find that when I love someone truly and genuinely, it can be easy for me to forgive them. I guess this checks out with the notion that many see forgiveness as the most beautiful form of love. I can see that, too. However, I do fall short in forgiving myself. I imagine most people struggle in one aspect of forgiveness or another. Either it’s hard to forgive ourselves or it’s hard to forgive someone close to us. Perhaps it’s difficult for us to forgive those we don’t know well enough when we feel they have let us down.

Whatever the case, taking the time to practice a meditation exercise in forgiveness is an essential step that can tell us quite a bit about ourselves. Thankfully, there are a few forgiveness exercises in Monroe’s Expand app. I tried my hand at the “5 Minute Forgiveness” exercise today and was surprised by how light I felt afterward.

We tend to hold on to a lot of pain, stress, anger, and sadness that we don’t always realize we collect, and it can take quite focused attention to release it. However, as I began this exercise by repeating a self-forgiveness mantra, I soon felt lighter and freer. I felt my body being delicately picked apart as heavier, tense, and hurt parts began releasing as though they had been trapped inside me. With the help of breathwork and healing mantras, I found myself quickly and easily releasing that which no longer serves me in a way I’ve never experienced before.

We tend to hold on to a lot of pain, stress, anger, and sadness that we don’t always realize we collect, and it can take quite focused attention to release it.

With this exercise and intention set on healing, I found that I had anger, fear, sadness, and more entangled around many of my strengths and positive traits. By meditating with the intent of forgiving myself, I found I could unwind parts of me bit by bit and release the negatives while keeping the positives in an almost unconscious effort. It was freeing and healing.

So, I ask you today if you are holding any grudges. Do you need to forgive anyone? Do you need to forgive yourself? Try turning on the Expand app and practicing the “5 Minute Forgiveness” exercise periodically. It can support your healing of mind and body. I encourage you to find the deep areas of stress and pain that may be hiding within you and use this exercise as a way to both discover and release them.