I’m thinking out loud about a time when something came up that impacted the photography community. It was a thing and things happen. Anytime humans are involved things are going to happen-we’re just not perfect. We make mistakes, exercise poor judgment and sometimes just let our alter ego’s lead the way. In the end our ability to resolve or even to try to resolve is what’s going to set us apart not just with people but with God.

In the midst of walking life and this thing out I’m reminded some people don’t want resolution.
We have to learn to accept that some people aren’t satisfied even if you ask for forgiveness or try to work through something with them.
You have to let that be their issue.
We have no control over others.

Apologize sincerely
Forgive others
Forgive yourself!
Move forward

I’m sure this sounds so simple in writing and I know it’s not that easy but in the end that’s what it is.
Moving forward isn’t always easy.
Sometimes there’s the looming feeling of being hurt or having disappointed others, yourself and God.
It can be nagging and keep you up at night causing stress and anxiety.
Do yourself a favor…be graceful to yourself and forgive you so you can move forward.
While you’re at it don’t let others hang your mistakes or faults over your head and keep reminding you of them.

Most of the time it’s not outsiders reminding us, it’s us reminding us with that internal voice playing it over and over again.
That ruminating voice reminds us not only of this thing but all the things and try to convince us that we aren’t loved, worthy, beautiful, smart or appreciated.
Lies! Self-lies and it’s dangerous to our well being.

Are you willing?

Are you willing to work through it? That’s an important question to ask yourself. Working through any uncomfortable situation is well, uncomfortable. It’s not going to feel good and produce warm fuzzies. Instead it might jerk some tears and cause some fetal position rocking back and forth for a season. But it will just be a season…unless we make it longer than it needs to be. I’m an advocate of getting your cry on if you feel you need to but don’t stay there.

Have you forgiven you?

I see a lot of forgiveness happen but there’s something lingering about forgiving ourselves. We forgiven the people that hurt us in the past but will beat ourselves to a pulp mentally and emotionally. Why?

• Is it because internally we don’t feel we are worthy of forgiveness to self?
• Is it because we feel like we can’t do anything right and this is just one more thing to add to the list?
• Is it because we have the voice of past hurt in our beings reminding us that we’re never going to feel good, be whole or rise from our sunken places?

I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is forgiveness and forward movement. Let’s not confuse this with suppression because it’s not the same thing. We’re not talking about being puffed up and pretending nothing is or has happened but going THROUGH the healing process, seeing how you can amend with humans and God and choosing to forgive. We talk a lot about forgiveness towards people that hurt us but we exclude ourselves as one of the people that hurt us. See what I did there?
If you hurt you… you’re as deserving of forgiveness as someone else is. Be INpowered!