Somatic Practice for
Learning How You Forgive

Listen and follow along as Madeline Wade guides you through this somatic practice.

Forgiveness isn’t about acquiescing, or making yourself less than the other. Forgiveness is that quality that allows you to soften to the situation and realize that beating yourself up or attacking another individual for their belief system takes up a lot of time and energy that could be used for more useful and fruitful endeavors.

Forgiveness is... letting go.

Try this practice:

Find in yourself where you may be holding resentment toward yourself, someone or even a situation

Take a deep breath

Ask yourself this question, What am I holding onto and why?

Now notice in your body where and how you are holding on to this resentment

As you breathe out imagine the person, whether it is yourself or someone else, standing in front of you

Look into their eyes and then place your hand directly on your heart

Feel the sensation in your body, imagine your chest relaxing and your stomach softening

Look deeply into their eyes and say, “I open to forgiveness and whatever I hold toward this person, myself or the situation, I release”

Notice how you release or let go. Did you let go of a story? Did you release a contraction somewhere in your body? Perhaps you let go of a mood around it?

Breathe deeply and remember that forgiving simply means letting go.

When you experience how you “forgive” or “let go,” you will be able to forgive in other situations in your life. It is a practice for a lifetime.