Question: “I just got mugged. I thought I could trust these people and they end up beating me and taking my money. I’m very depressed because I try to see the beauty in people no matter how ugly but, how do I see the beauty in this? I don’t even have words to explain how I feel. The only thing that comes to my mind is I feel like [crap]…
I am so sorry that happened to you. I can’t even imagine how you are feeling or what you’re going through. But I can understand that it can definitely be a traumatic experience that’s probably left you feeling vulnerable and alone. I have never been mugged, but I have had any house and car broken into. Coming home to see the aftermath definitely made me feel exposed and terrified. To be in an experience that makes you feel like a part of you is lost and unsafe is probably one of the scariest things that can happen.
It took me a while, as I’m sure it will take you a while, to recover, to breathe, to forgive, and to release. Things can be replaced, cuts and bruises will heal, but there is a part of us that will always feel empty. The more we dwell on what happened and fearing the past, the less we can focus on the present. Because in the present we are still here, we can open our eyes and move our fingers. The feelings of anger and hatred toward those that mugged and beat you will seem like it will never go away and that it’ll always haunt you. Forgiveness isn’t when someone says they’re sorry and tries to make it up. Forgiveness is acceptance of what happened and letting it go. There is no need to “forgive” or “punish” someone for what they did or said. Forgiveness isn’t for them, it’s for ourselves, for our own peace of mind.
The world is beautiful and it is filled with the most beautiful people and things. But even a beautiful botanical garden still has ugly weeds, but the beauty of everything else outshines those weeds. Likewise, the beauty in the world is far more beautiful than the few ugly things that happen every once in a while. So we shouldn’t focus on the weeds, because if we do, then we will only start seeing weeds, and eventually all we will see is weeds even though we are surrounded by a beautiful botanical garden.
Sit down for a cup of tea with your anger that was caused by that experience it. Look at it in its eyes and smile. Whisper to yourself that what happened does not change you and does not change the beauty in your world. Whisper to yourself that you accept what happened and the incident is forgiven. Not for the sake of those people, but for your own peace of mind.
Love is the most natural feeling in the world. Hate is artificial and takes effort. So don’t plant seeds of hatred in your mind. Allow the natural seeds of love flourish!
Smile and be well!