Excellence Reporter: Ana, what is the meaning of life?

Ana Holub: The meaning of life, for me, is a journey deep into the heart of our soul. This world is just like the Holodeck in Star Trek – it seems real, but it’s only a passing illusion of light and dark, pleasure and pain, and all dualities we can imagine. We come here as eternal beings, clothed temporarily in human bodies, perhaps for many, many lifetimes – to learn and to wake up. This awakening leads us to our true power and original essence.

What appears to us as worthy of our time and energy is often meaningless distraction. Petty power plays, greed, and dramatic showmanship hide our real nature as limitless beings of Light. Once we get bored​ or fed up​ with all of the tension, addiction and war, we realize that more meaningful opportunities beckon. We begin to gravitate toward the Mystery. “What is Life, and who am I?” we wonder. With these deep questions, we are ready for awakening.

I’ve discovered that we can’t experience ​true freedom until we learn to​ let go of the suffering that we carry in our hearts and minds. This includes generational pain, cultural dogma and rigid religious indoctrination. In order to be free, we must forgive in a maximal way. We do this not in the traditional manner we were probably taught as young children, but as a radical departure from Normality. We take a few deep breaths and make a daring leap into the unknown, with trust in a loving, Higher Power as our guide.

I’m going to tell you a secret that I’ve learned on my own soul’s journey, which I’m still walking day by day. The secret is ​that all we need to do to be happy is to give away our sadness and fear, and offer them in surrender to the Oneness that gives us life. When we consciously and willingly lay down our burdens of revenge, guilt and shame, we make room inside for miracles. We open up and say HELP! and YES! to the Mystery that creates us in every moment. Miraculously, we become cleansed, filled with light, and open vessels for intuitive wisdom.

This release is the forgiveness practice that I’ve found and love to share. It has brought me from guilt and anguish to vast inner peace and abundant, luminous joy. I wish this peace and joy for everyone.

​I wish it for YOU.

This kind of forgiveness is free and available to everyone. With it, we can move beyond the mistakes and disasters of our past, no matter what happened or who did the crimes.

​We realize that we’re responsible for cleaning up any mess we’ve made as best we can. And ​a​s we open to being guided by Life in a loving way, we ​begin to ​know our purpose and ​start to deeply relax. Then all that’s left is to give away once more​, this time offering gifts of patience, understanding and compassion. I invite you to try forgiveness. You will be amazed at the beauty this path will give you.

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~Ana Holub, MA, teaches forgiveness and recovery from addiction as a counselor, author, poet and educator. She holds a BA in Peace Studies and an MA in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law. Ana is also a certified domestic violence counselor, Radical Forgiveness coach and recovery coach.

Ana is deeply inspired by her daily study of A Course in Miracles, meditation and yoga. From her own difficult childhood to becoming a successful counselor, Ana knows firsthand the benefits of using forgiveness as a tool for inner peace and freedom. Over the past twenty years, she’s worked with thousands of people, including couples, at-risk families, hospice patients, non-profits, businesses, and schools.

Ana’s mission to extend peace includes her work with inmates in prison (San Quentin) and juvenile offenders. She has provided restorative justice, poetry, and mindfulness meditation to incarcerated people since 2002.

Ana teaches workshops internationally on forgiveness, ​recovery from addiction, ​self-empowerment, women’s issues, emotional healing and communication skills. She has presented her work in Singapore, Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Czech Republic, and around the United States. Her books include Forgive and Be Free, The Edges Are Friendly, and a chapter in Colin Tipping’s book, Why You Still Need To Forgive Your Parents. She also created The Healing Power of Forgiveness audio CD and several online courses, including Forgive and Be Free of Your Addictions. She’s worked for over 20 years in the field of restorative justice and reconciliation, teaching her clients practical skills for living boldly in harmony, strength and empowerment.
www.AnaHolub.com

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