A Chance to Start Over

By Brad Hirschfield

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls this week. It's a day of repentance and forgiveness -- both giving it and getting it. Neither of those is easy, but both are within our grasp.

Forgiving someone means that we find the strength to go beyond ourselves to a place that helps us see those who have hurt us in a new way. That's never easy. Seeking forgiveness requires us to confront the past, see what we have done wrong, and commit to changing our behavior. That's huge. But like the ability to forgive others, it is within our grasp. So with Yom Kippur approaching fast, here are some tips that will help you to forgive those who have hurt you and seek forgiveness from those you have hurt.

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield is the President of CLAL, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. He blogs on 'Windows & Doors' for Beliefnet.

Nothing's Unforgivable

There is no such thing as an unforgivable act. So don't let your fear of what you did, or rage about what was done to you, dissuade you from either seeking or granting forgiveness.

Mind Your Own Business

We can only grant forgiveness for that which was done to us and should only seek forgiveness for that which we have done.

Stay Balanced

The number of apologies you seek should be proportional to the number you are willing to offer, because the doing of each nurtures the capacity for the other.

Never Alone

Know that you are never alone. From God's perspective, sincere effort to correct the past earns any of us what my kids call a do over.

Honor the Past

Honor the past, but don't let yourself be imprisoned by it. Don't allow your fear of forgetting what was done to you keep you from forgiving those who did it.

Love Over Logic

Allow love to triumph over logic. There will always be a good reason to keep doing what you are doing or to withhold your forgiveness from someone else. But the real issue is whether or not you love them enough to go beyond that logic.

Keep It Simple

Apologize for, or forgive, one thing at a time. There is always more to the story, but this is not the moment to explore it.

Not Ready to Forgive?

The answer doesn't always have to be yes. We are not always ready to forgive and that is okay. But the answer shouldn't always be no, either. Consider what you lose by saying no, and be concerned if that has become your default response.

Forgiveness Isn't the End

Remember that forgiveness is not always the end of the process, but the beginning of a new level of relationship which may continue to be shaped by those past acts which demanded forgiveness.

The Joy of Forgiveness

Celebrate the moment of forgiveness in some way that rewards both the one seeking forgiveness and the one who grants it. A hug, a kiss, perhaps something even more intimate. A drink or a shared meal. Whatever it is, you have both accomplished a major thing, so make the most of it.