Wow! Thank you for starting this thread! The world would be a much better place if we just owned all of our emotional stuff instead of letting it spill out. People would no longer have anger issues.

I'm interested in knowing how you (and hope others will post as well) have owned and integrated those things in your past. I realize once something happens, it's a part of who we are, but what have you done so that those issues and your choices around them are empowering instead of disempowering?

Thanks again for starting this thread.

Sending you love,
Danielle Eidson

Forgiveness struck a cord with me....how do you forgive someone who has hurt you deeply, won't take much responsibility for it and continues to hurt you every day by not showing that she cares, I am talking about my mother here. How do I just forgive and move on and is it beneficial for me to just except everything she has done and does like breaking promises that she will hang out with me? I feel pain when I draw the line and try to cut her out of my life and I feel pain when I try to except her for who she is and allow her to treat me however she wants.

Butterfly,
Wow this is my 3rd reply to you today.  Perhaps we were meant to connect :-)

I wanted to let you know that I had to forgive my best friend of 20 years for being judgemental, rude and hurtful when she felt like she wasn't being listened to or being cared for. I also had to forgive her for blaming me for having everything she said she didn't have growing up.  Finally, I had to blame myself for being in such a codependent relationship with her for almost 20 years.  I've had to break ties with her due to the fact that she doesn't want to change and doesn't feel she has to.  She'd rather be in the past so I'm choosing to leave her there. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done but I've done it.  I did this in 2 different letters to her.

This being said, in order to forgive you just need to be willing.  Are you willing to step out and start to forgive?

Love to you,
Mary C.

I also heard the quote about not forgiving yourself is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.  I heard it from Susan St. James who lost her son Teddy Ebersol in a plane crash.  I don't know if she originated it or not.

I had an amazing experience yesterday.  I listened to Debbie's radio program and I decided to call in and ask her where to begin in the process of moving on from the place of victim in my life that began with the death of my mom and two siblings.  It stunned me that on Monday, five days ago, I watched the Ex Wives Club for the second time and didn't yet even know Debbie Ford's last name and yesterday I got the opportunity to speak with her and be personally coached by her.  So, she suggested that I come to the site three times a day and listen to the prayers, meditations affirmations for ten minutes each time for 28 days.  This will be to help that little girl inside of me get the love and attention and care that she needs in order to grow up and heal.  What a gift Debbie Ford has been given and what an amazing gift she gives.  My heartfelt appreciation goes out to her. 
I will keep everyone updated as to how it goes.  I have spent years in psychotherapy to deal with this and somehow it has never healed.  I spent more years (before the therapy) drinking and doing chemicals to avoid it and that didn't work either.  I have had one bad relationship after another looking for the answers that I now truly believe are only within me.

I have had periods of time being very empowered and working in jobs that allow me to take my own pain and touch other lives.  I've worked in a battered women's shelter and in a traditional homeless shelter, to name a couple.  I would make wonderful strides and then sabatoge again.  It is different this time.  I don't need to sabatoge myself, I need to accept myself!!

Here's to all of us!!
Teresa

I'm so thrilled you listened to Debbie live and got coached by her! You will definitely notice a difference if you listen to those prayers and affirmations each day.

I'm so excited for you. You will love how the 'bad' drops away as you start to fill up with the good. Keep reaching out.
sharon

Teresa, I've heard the show you called on just two hours ago. I just want to say thank you for sharing. I can't believe how much it helps for me to listen to the hayhouse radio!

Hi Teresa,
Your posting made my night! I'm so glad you thought enough of yourself to really take the time and do the listening! This is just the beginning of such a time of love for you.

Thanks for sharing how it is going!
Sincerely,
Sharon