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Jennifer Granville's avatar

This was such a positive and useful article. I have indeed been carrying some guilt connected to behavoiur on my part and it occasionally bubbles to the surface and I shove it down because 'it is too late now' and I just have to deal with it. But you have actually offered some action, a strategy, that I can take and I really appreciate that and value it. i am a doer and will now do and let you know if it works! thank you.

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Caroline Ferguson's avatar

Please do, Jennifer! I think the twin acts of forgiving ourselves for who we've been and what we've done, and expressing sorrow and remorse, even if only in private, can bring immense healing 💖

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Louise Haynes's avatar

This article is a keeper, Caroline. Thank you for posting this strong yet gentle reminder that it’s possible to change the effects of the past, even if they’re just inside us.

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Caroline Ferguson's avatar

Thank you for commenting and for the lovely restack, Louise. It's such a relief when we realise we don't have to keep holding ourselves hostage to past events we can't change. The change comes when we transform our view of those events.

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Katrina Collier 🇦🇺🇬🇧's avatar

Love this, Caroline. In Demartini's Breakthrough Experience, we looked at how our dreadful behaviour benefitted the other person, as counterintuitive as it seemed. He explained that there is always a silver lining, even in our worst moments. Maybe that will help lighten the load.

Yvette Taylor's book The Energy Alignment Method is great for releasing stuck energy too.

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Part 2 Of Your (Love?) Life's avatar

I love the fact you write ‘honour is deeply important to me’. That’s especially true in the marriage covenant I think.

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Caroline Ferguson's avatar

I was surprised when this old-fashioned word came up so strongly when I did a values exercise a few years ago, Katrina, but it helped me join previously unconnected dots and so much made sense. You're right, I do think it's an essential component of a good relationship. It would be useful for both parties to talk to each other about what honour means for them. Thanks for reading and commenting :)

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Part 2 Of Your (Love?) Life's avatar

‘Honour’ or ‘covenant’? Hopefully I try to value both. A ‘covenant’ means so much more than a ‘contract’.

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Caroline Ferguson's avatar

Indeed it does. As with any agreement, a convenant can only work if all sides whole-heartedly embrace and keep faith with the spirit and detail of it. I once co-wrote a relationship charter with a partner I loved very much. It worked fine until he revealed just how little honour - and our charter - meant to him. We live and learn.

PS - I was referring to honour but covenant is a lovely old-fashioned term and concept too.

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