# Unconditional love and forgiveness
*2008-07-17*

> Bill Young shares a prayer focused on the transformative power of unconditional love and the necessity of forgiveness for emotional healing.

## The challenge of unconditional love

As humans, unconditional love is often difficult to achieve. We tend to place conditions on our friendships, our marriages, and our family lives. There are usually many conditions that we place on our circumstances, and that others place on us.

## A prayer for forgiveness

I found a beautiful prayer by Dr. Miguel Ruiz that is suitable for anyone who believes in the Creator. It asks for the courage and will to forgive those we love the most and to let go of every injustice we hold in our minds. It acknowledges that the only way to heal the pain in our hearts is through forgiveness.

## Forgiveness as an act of self-love

The prayer asks the Creator to strengthen our will to forgive anyone who has hurt us, even when we believe the offense is unforgivable. Forgiveness is ultimately an act of self-love; by choosing to forgive, we free ourselves from suffering every time we remember the offense.

## Healing guilt and moving forward

Forgiveness is not just about others, but also about accepting forgiveness for the people we have hurt. By accepting forgiveness and acknowledging mistakes made out of ignorance, we can heal the guilt in our hearts. With wisdom and determination, we can refrain from repeating those mistakes.

## Transforming relationships

Love and forgiveness have the power to transform every relationship in the most positive way. By opening our hearts to these gifts, we can share our love without fear and enjoy a reunion with the people we love the most.

*Forgiveness is an act of self-love that heals the heart and transforms our relationships.*