If joy is your nature, and your heart is heavy, then you can know that you are away from your nature. It is unnatural for you to be unhappy and anxious. That is why it is so uncomfortable for you. If anguish were a natural thing, it would not be so disturbing.

You can bless even your anguish, however. It is signaling you to return to your nature of love. It is yourself you are not loving. That must be the case or you would not punish yourself so. Perhaps you consider yourself unworthy of joy. Perhaps you consider yourself worthy of woe.

How can anyone be depressed when trees grow and flowers bloom? How can any heart feel depressed when even one apple grows on a tree? When one baby smiles. When there is even one such a thing as a baby gerbil to steal your heart. When there is music. When every forest is a work of art. When a crayon can make a mark on paper. When children play. When there are choo-choo trains. When there are puddles to stomp in. When winds blow. When blossoms that fall nourish their trees for the next year. When everything has a purpose. When purpose has a purpose.

Forgiving is the same as letting go.

Unforgiving is the same as holding on.

When you hold on, you stagnate your energy. You create short-circuits within yourself. You punish yourself and call it virtue.

Do not keep ideas from the bitter past. Do not retain bitterness nor self-righteousness.

It is not up to you to forgive someone else. They do not need your dispensation. It is up to you to not harbor their mischief in the first place. When you judge, you sentence yourself.