When bad things happen and we experience a financial loss or hardship,  it’s not unusual to want
to place the blame on something or someone in order to cope with our feelings.  Anger and blame can be a way of feeling in
control, but in actuality, it really only leaves us feeling powerless.

Some people lately are also
blaming themselves for their financial challenges, thinking “if only I had
done this” or, “I can’t believe I did that” or, “what was I
thinking?!!” This kind of blame only fuels our fear, anger and resentment
and deepens the negative charge we have around the problem.

So, how do we release the harmful feelings and
negativity around our financial circumstances?  

Forgiveness is a great tool for releasing negative thought and feelings which can
be toxic and counter-productive. We are all looking for peace; peace of mind,
body and spirit, right? In order to find it, it is very important to examine
what our own responsibility is in the situation and to own our role in it. Once
we have forgiven ourselves, it is easier to move forward to forgive others who
have hurt or harmed us. 

Beliefnet contributor Joan Borysenko says that forgiveness helps us to create
more empowerment, spaciousness and willingness to look at a larger point of
view. Another reason to forgive is that it’s good for you! According to author
and forgiveness expert Fred Luskin, there is now scientific evidence that
that  forgiveness can reduce anger, depression and stress, which
ultimately will improve your physical and emotional health. 

 
Here are some key points to keep in mind when working through your forgiveness
process.

1. Forgiveness is first and foremost for you. It is about taking back
your power so that you can see and receive the good around you.

2. Forgiveness allows you to shift your perspective on what is happening.
Recognize that your primary distress is coming from the hurt feelings and
thoughts that are plaguing you, not what offended or hurt you ten minutes — or
ten years — ago. Whether you are experiencing the loss of a job, your home or
retirement savings, this loss is the real issue, not who did it to you.
Grieving a loss is an important process in and of itself, but forgiveness is
the first step. Anger often denies us access to the pain of loss. Forgiveness
will help you clear the anger and resentment so that you can begin to feel the
loss.

3. Forgiveness does not mean that you have to make amends with the person.
They don’t even have to know because it’s not about them. Forgiveness offers
you the opportunity to be at peace with the situation. This can be as simple as
forgiving the investment company who managed your 401K, or Wall Street, or your
mortgage broker. Make a list and forgive them so that you can be free of this
energetically and emotionally.

4. Remember forgiveness is a process. It’s not always easy and it takes
time to heal. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to go through your own
process. I recommend writing a forgiveness letter to get your feelings on
paper. Through writing, you can express your feelings openly either directly to
the person or even to yourself. You do not have to give the letter to the
person you are forgiving, it is your own process for letting go and creating
your “forgiveness story.”

Ultimately, forgiveness is a step towards greater spiritual and emotional
expansion. It allows you to create the space for letting go of negativie
thoughts and feelings so that you can be free of the past and move forward to
create the next chapter of your life.

Here’s a wonderful prayer to assist you with this forgiveness process:

Dear God,

Please help me to release all judgements, resentments, mistakes and pain of the past. I no longer wish to be bound by these limitations. Help me
to release the past and all its hurt so that I may once again live in
peace and experience new possibilities and joy. I forgive myself and
all others that may have caused me any harm. I surrender these things completely so that I may create a successful, abundant and prosperous life.

I surrender the past in order to make
room to fully receive this moment and the future you desire for me. I
offer my life as a clean slate into your hands. I choose to be free.
Thank you for this day and this opportunity to begin again the blessing
of this one great life which I willingly and gratefully receive. And so
it is. Amen. 

~ Deborah Price 

Peace & Blessings!