Dear Choose Happy Community, Some pain stays with us long after the person or situation is gone. This teaching offers a powerful shift: healing may begin by forgiving ourselves for carrying the impact of what happened and giving ourselves the love and understanding we need. It doesn’t mean denying what hurt you or pretending it didn’t matter. It means turning toward the part of yourself that still needs care. As we meet ourselves with compassion, we can begin to release the pain and navigate our relationships with greater wisdom, strength, and love. Here’s one of our favorite quotes from the video: “ If you have any pain in relation to any humans from the past in your life, does that sound familiar to anyone? He’s saying you’re forgiving yourself, for allowing yourself to have been affected by them adversely. I know it’s a really interesting formulation, but it’s reminding each of us, ‘I have the freedom to heal myself the moment I decide to forgive myself for having been affected by anyone else adversely. I have the freedom to fill my heart with such love that then there is just a natural arising of forgiveness.’ “There is a natural letting go of pain in relation to, it seems to have been that the pain was connected to another person, and what he’s really saying here, it’s not actually ever about the other person. “There’s always some aspect of yourself that you’re being invited to give understanding to, give connection to, give caring to. And then the situation, if it does involve another person, will resolve itself, as you’re coming from caring, you’re coming from connection from within yourself. And then you’re free to navigate with love, with wisdom, with affection, with good humor, compassion, courage, strength in relation to yourself, and then also in relation to others.” We also shared this video on YouTube, but wanted you to be able to have it on your Substack video player as well, in case you prefer that. Having it on Substack makes it easy for you to see any other podcasts, videos, articles, or full meditation services that might be available in the Healing Consciousness by clicking here. If you have heard this teaching before, we invite you — as Swami so often invites us — to hear it as if you are hearing it for the first time. Often we receive these teachings right when we need them. In loving service,Awake Yoga Meditation Everything available to a paid subscriber. Are you one yet? This is a free post made available to everyone. If you are not yet a paid subscriber to Choose Happy with Swami Nityananda, consider becoming one today to receive exclusive audio talks, articles, meditation service replays, access to the archives, and so much more. Podcast Episodes*: All Episodes Darshan Articles*: All Articles From the Founder Series: All Series • Mantra Series • St. Francis Prayer Series Live Meditation Replays: All Services • Index of All Services by Series • Sunday Meditation Services • Tuesday Darshan Meditation Services • Friday Night Healing Meditation Services • Satsangs Book Excerpts**: All Excerpts • Satsang with Swami Shankarananda Workshops (formerly eCourses): All Workshops • The Spiritual Art of Intentions: Creating a Life You Love • Pillars of Self-Realization: 50 Days with Swami Shankarananda • Love: The Eternal Flame of Life Within You • Wisdom: Discovering the Peace in Our True Nature *Also available to Free Subscribers**Select posts also available to Free Subscribers Consider making a financial contribution to Awake Yoga Meditation Your generosity makes it possible for AYM to share Kriya Yoga, meditations, and teachings of truth with people around the world. It also allows the community to support the presiding teacher’s Dakshina (reimbursement of basic living expenses for housing, transportation, and insurance). The presiding teacher for Awake Yoga Meditation is Swami Nityananda. Consider making a financial contribution to Swami’s Bowl As the presiding teacher, Swami Nityananda selflessly offers her wisdom without taking a salary from Awake Yoga Meditation. Your gift honors her giving and ensures she can continue to share her invaluable teachings. The tradition of meditation communities like Awake Yoga Meditation is to support the presiding teacher’s Dakshina (reimbursement of basic living expenses for housing, transportation, and insurance). All of the other myriad expenses of life are offered from student to teacher through Swami’s Bowl. Choose Happy with Swami Nityananda is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awakeyogameditation.substack.com/subscribe