Forgiveness: Confidence and Security

There's no proof for this, but I think people can be good to other people because they have the confidence, self-esteem and security to reach out to and treat others well unconditionally. Conversely, we might treat others badly when we lack the confidence, the self-esteem or the security to be able to put their needs before our own.

When I hurt others, it has almost always been because of a lack of confidence, a feeling of insecurity, or not believing in myself. Friends have forgiven me, but I feel that pain of knowing I have hurt someone I cared about. I am grateful for the times my friends have forgiven me for my weaknesses and thoughtlessness.

I believe very few people set out to hurt others. But just like a drowning person will push anyone to the bottom to get their head out of water, so do some of us at times hurt someone else to try to save our own sense of self and ego, however misguided our actions are.

So my New Year's resolution is to try to develop the kind of confidence, self-esteem and security that allows me to be good to others unconditionally and never push someone under to 'save' myself.

That is all.