Headspace_logo_svg
Try for freeTry for free
PodcastThe Process of Forgiveness

The Process of Forgiveness

This week is all about the power of forgiveness. Today, Rosie talks about how to finally let go of grudges and open a new world of compassion and self-love.

Try 14 days free

Better mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.

Try 14 days free
Better mental health starts with Headspace

(cursor clicks) (bright music) Headspace Studios. (light music) Hi, everyone. It's Rosie. Welcome to "Radio Headspace" and to Monday. So back when I was going to college, I had a falling out with a dear and close friend. We'll call her Jen. We were on different paths and ultimately, outgrew each other, but it was hard to let go because we had been friends for a long time. Then, one day, we disagreed, we argued, and we parted ways. Not long after, my heart carried feelings of anger, resentment, and regret; a weight that got heavier with time. I've been thinking a lot about how I was able to get through that period in my life and what it took to heal. So today and for the rest of this week, I thought it would be good to talk about the process of forgiveness. I've found that it's the key to opening up a whole new world of compassion and self-love. So back to the story. This argument happened around the time that I had began my mindfulness studies, which taught me the importance of forgiveness. And the incident with Jen, along with a few others, would consistently come up for me. And maybe that sounds familiar. Has mindfulness ever made you notice certain patterns in your life? I occasionally would hear her name in conversations with mutual friends and all of those feelings would come up again. I debated calling or writing a letter, but I would never allow myself to fully go there. During this time, one of the key strategies I embraced was self-reflection. I dedicated time to introspection and I dove into my own emotions and triggers. I journaled a lot. And little by little, I gained clarity on how some of these past experiences impacted me and showed me what I needed to release in order to move on. Fast forward to many years later, at a mutual friend's house, Jen and I had an unexpected reunion. I wanted to be defensive, but a realization dawned on me: It was time to let go. We had a long history together and I had already been on my healing journey. It wasn't easy and it didn't happen overnight. I had to accept the hurt, acknowledge the pain, and finally, decide to let it go. As I began to practice forgiveness, I experienced a transformation. My heart, which was once filled with resentment, started to feel less achy. I noticed that by forgiving, I was not only fostering compassion towards my friend, but also towards myself. I was no longer captive to those past incidents. Instead, I was giving myself the gift of peace and acceptance. It was liberating to realize that forgiveness was not something we do for others. It's a path we choose for our own growth and wellbeing; an act of self-compassion. (gentle music) So if you wanna try forgiveness, here are a few things that can help you on your journey. First, acknowledge...

Details

TypePodcast
Duration6 min

About your teachers

  • A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.

    More about Andy
  • Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.

    More about Eve
  • As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.

    More about Dora
  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

    More about Kessonga
  • Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

    More about Rosie
Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Stress, sleep, and all the challenging emotions — care for your mind with the everyday mental health app that's shown to make a difference.

Try 14 days free
Look After Your Mind

Look after your mind

Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges

Science Backed

Science-backed

Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being

Explore Content

Explore 1000+ 
expert-led exercises

Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.

Member reviews

Hear from some of our members

Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.

Rachel

UK

Member-Icon-01

Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.

Davide

London

Member-Icon-04

The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.

Alicia

Canada

Member-Icon-03

Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

Keri

UK

Member-Icon-02

Related to 'The Process Of'

Forgiveness

Meditation10 min

Find peace in working to forgive yourself or others.

More to explore

Beginning Meditation

Explore-More-Icon-02

Reframe Stress and Relax

Explore-More-Icon-01

New and Popular

Explore-More-Icon-03

Becoming a Mindful Parent

Explore-More-Icon-04
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Consumer Health Data
    • Your privacy choices
      Privacy Choices Icon
    • CA Privacy Notice
  • © 2024 Headspace Inc.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Consumer Health Data
  • Your privacy choices
    Privacy Choices Icon
  • CA Privacy Notice