I have plenty of time, I thought to myself as I glanced down at my watch waiting to board my flight from Dallas to Sacramento.

After all, I was just at that gate, and they still hadn’t even put the correct destination up on the board.

I bought a sandwich for the flight and still feeling like I had plenty of time, I decided I would stop in the bookstore and check out any new releases.

As I picked up a book, I heard someone say, The guy that wrote that book is brilliant. 

I quickly glanced at the back picture and realized I was talking with the author.

I’ll buy your book, I replied. He was a professional speaker and was traveling to Boston to do a speech, as I was headed to speak in California.

We engaged in conversation, and something was telling me Check your watch, which was overruled by the voice in my head that said, Don’t be rude; you have plenty of time.

As I finished the conversation and headed to the register, I realized my feeling of “plenty of time” was now gone.

I got to the gate to see the sign.

Sacramento – Closed

A sinking feeling in my stomach begins to start followed by self-destructive thoughts.

You idiot. How could you miss your flight?

I talked with the gate agent and in about 15min. I was able to secure the next flight to Sacramento in a couple of hours.

That still didn’t stop my barrage of personal insults on myself.

As I sat there waiting for the next flight, I began to whisper.

I forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you.

I don’t know where it came from or what inclined me to say it, but as I said it the feeling of failure and anxiety was replaced with peace and eventually humor.

I’m going to speak about productivity tomorrow, and I miss my flight. That is hilarious.

Growth can sometimes start with forgiveness. And when we can sincerely forgive ourselves, it slows down the constant replay of the situation, and negative thoughts, in our minds.

Forgive yourself on a mistake you made.

It is tough to grow and move forward when we are held down by self-destructive thoughts.

by Eric Papp

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