SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

Such a familiar phrase isn't it--Simplify Your Life.  Sounds easy.  But is it?    (Post:  "Make Your Life a Little Easier, Especially in Your Head") I read an article about waiting.  Waiting for a better job, for a new person in our life, to be a parent or grandparent, for our children to grow up, for a health issue to resolve, for more time, or more money, for the right moment. . . something.  We're on hold waiting for a better future.  We're uncertain and some experts say uncertainty can make us feel anxious.  Our life doesn't seem simple at all. 

Uncertainty about the most important things in life can be devastating. Uncertainty caused by health or money problems, by disloyalty or by someone we trusted deceiving us, by mental illness playing havoc in our family. By something unexpected and devastating. A shock.  Such life-altering events are difficult to get past, even when we work hard at it. Even when we pray.

One way to simplify, according to experts, is to let go of anger.  We've all had to do that in our lives.  When someone has wronged us and refuses to admit it, the Bible says to abandon rage and anger (Psalm 37:8).  This is not forgiveness or reconciliation. Rather, being consumed by anger is not good for us.  By letting go we are healing ourselves, trusting that the pain will lessen with time.  

Another way to simplify is to forgive.  Not condone, not pretend an offense never happened; not allow ourselves to be fooled or taken advantage of; not pardon someone who tells us they've done nothing wrong when we know they have.  No.  Forgiveness is different than that. Forgiveness arises out of the unselfishness of love.  With forgiveness we accept the apology, we welcome the change.  1 Corinthians 13: 4-5 says that love does not keep account of injury.  We cancel the debt.  This is in the Lord's Prayer.  

How does this simplify our life?  Studies show that people who abandon anger or who forgive themselves and others are happier and healthier than those who hold on to hostility.  When we abandon anger or forgive we become more optimistic, our heart rates improve, our well-being is heightened.  So says the  Director of Stanford University Forgiveness Project Dr. Fred Luskin (www.curablehealth.com).  Forgiveness is an ancient tradition.  We can even forgive those who are long gone. Our parents.  The bullies from high school.  Forgiveness and anger abandonment are now taught as part of stress management courses.  And while we are waiting for our lives to change we can continue to live our lives.  Waiting is also living.  Ahhh. . . I'm ready to do this hard work.  And I hope somewhere someone is forgiving me.  Nina Naomi