17 Insider Secrets

for Letting Go of the Past

using the Healing Power
of Forgiveness
1 Why is forgiveness important?

Forgiveness offers you a way to heal your past memories, so

you can be more present, more alive, and more compassionate.
Youll have more fun in life, instead of being stuck in the pain
of things that happened in the past. Forgiveness isnt for the
other person (although he or she will benefit) its for YOU!

2 Who can use forgiveness and emotional

healing effectively?
Anyone who has the desire to heal can use forgiveness as a way
to bring peace into their lives. It doesnt matter what culture
youre from or how old you are, or how long ago the painful
incident happened. As long as you are honest, open and willing,
you can use the simple gift of forgiveness to completely change
your life.

Photo by Ana Holub, Strawberry Fields, Central Park, NYC

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

3 What kinds of forgiveness are there, and
what are the differences between them?

There are basically 3 different types of forgiveness.* The first

is Traditional Forgiveness, the one were all familiar with. In
this version, something awful (large or small) happened, and
we do our best to let it go somehow and feel better towards
the other person(s). Sometimes, our parents, teachers or
religious leaders tell us to forgive, or we think its something
we should do. But in Traditional Forgiveness, theres no map
to help us, no deep learning, and no way of knowing if weve
really forgiven for good.

Another form of forgiveness is Extraordinary Forgiveness,

which is when something really big happens, like the murder of
a child, and the parents forgive the perpetrator. This incredibly
moving when it happens but its very rare.

Most of us have smaller issues to forgive, so we tend to be

inspired by Extraordinary Forgiveness, but it doesnt really
show us how to heal whats happened in our own past. Also,
this kind of forgiveness doesnt offer all of the people involved
a soul level learning process. Instead, it tends to put a few
people on a pedestal of saintliness while leaving the rest of us
out.

The last form of forgiveness is often called Radical

Forgiveness. It is also the forgiveness taught in A Course in
Miracles, the Hawaiian healing modality of Hooponopono,
and to some degree in the 12 Step process. It offers you a map,
a step-by-step process, deep emotional release of past burdens,
soul level learning, and indescribably delicious inner peace. It
works for forgiving others and forgiving yourself!
*I gratefully acknowledge Colin Tipping for his teachings on the 3 kinds of forgiveness.

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

4 What are the benefits of forgiveness?

There have been a lot of scientific studies about forgiveness in

the last few years. Many benefits have consistently come
through in these studies (keep in mind theyre based on using
Traditional Forgiveness even better with Radical
Forgiveness). Some of them are*:

lower blood pressure

stress reduction
less hostility
better anger management skills
lower heart rate
lower risk of alcohol or substance abuse
fewer depression symptoms
fewer anxiety symptoms
reduction in chronic pain
boosts your immune response
more friendships
healthier relationships
greater religious or spiritual well-being
improved psychological well-being

*from research compiled by the Mayo Clinic, one of the best

medical centers in the US: www.mayoclinic.com

If you read the list above, youll see that all these benefits
describe a healthy, happy, connected person. Imagine if
everyone on earth learned to forgive! Wed be able to clean up
the planet in no time.

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

5 When is a good time to forgive?

The best time to forgive is really up to each person. I never tell

people that they should forgive. Youll forgive when you are
good and ready, and not a moment before.

Anytime is a good time! It doesnt take long, and it isnt hard.

It DOES help to have a map and some guidance along the path,
so that you can get the most out of the process. In addition, the
expanded, radical model isnt what youre used to, so some
training to get into a new mindset is necessary.

I dont know if Im ready to forgive. What

6 should I do?

See if any of these pre-requisites apply to you. They will help

you determine if you are ready to forgive.

Youre ready to radically forgive when

you feel that letting go of your pain, fear and sorrow is

better than holding on to it
you want to learn about and heal any unhealthy, difficult
patterns in your life that stem from a painful past.
you want a big, healthy, joyful change in your life
you deeply desire to say YES! to Life

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

 What kinds of issues can benefit from
7 forgiveness?

There are so many ways you can use forgiveness to bring peace
and freedom into your life. Do you have any of the following
issues that youd like to heal?

a relationship challenge, break-up or divorce

anger and guilt over relationships with your parents,
children, siblings or other family issues
unfinished business with a close friend or business
associate
low self-esteem
grudges and resentment
need to forgive yourself and let go of shame
feeling stuck in life
suffering from unhealthy recurring patterns
past or current experience with any kind of addiction or
abuse

When you think about it, all deep healing has an element of
forgiveness in it. With any of the situations listed above, you
can quickly heal your relationship with yourself, with others
and with Spirit.

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

 Whats the connection between
8 forgiveness and emotional healing?

Whenever you have pain stemming from a relationship that is

(or has been) in conflict, you have thoughts and feelings about
it: what went wrong, what should have happened, regrets,
anger, feelings of hurt, etc. Often, your thought about that
person becomes frozen in time even if that person has
changedeven if youve changed!

Maybe the incident happened years or decades ago or -

maybe youre upset about something that happened yesterday.
Either way, youll store all of your unfinished business in
your emotional body until you decide to release it and let it go.

The expanded forgiveness practice I teach shows you how to

easily and painlessly release all of the pent-up emotions that
youve stored in your body. If you dont release them, you can
create dis-ease in your body in the form of cravings, illness
or anxiety. Once you DO release them and learn to forgive,
youll feel a tremendous sense of relief, joy and peace.

9 Whats special about your forgiveness

process?

I teach an easy, step-by-step process. All you need is honesty,

openness and willingness for authentic change. This change
will be tremendously positive and will enhance your life for
the rest of your life!

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

My life mission is to teach you skills that open up big new
vistas for you, both in your understanding of human life and
your gut knowing or intuitive wisdom from Spirit. I dont
ever tell you what to do. Our sessions are not readings they
are supportive, investigations into the very nature of Reality.
You will receive tools that will uplift you and give you hope.
Without the pain of the past dragging you down, everything in
your life will be brighter, healthier and friendlier. The only
thing you sacrifice is your burdens from the past.

10 Is it really possible to learn to forgive?

With forgiveness, everyone benefits.

With forgiveness, you set others free and you set yourself free.

Its so simple - anyone can do it. But almost everyone needs a

little guidance to learn how. It turns out that we need to learn
this essential skill, because most of us werent taught when we
were kids; in fact, quite the opposite. Most of us were taught to
withdraw or be aggressive when we felt hurt or confused.
Often, tough things happened when we were very young that
we werent developmentally prepared for. So learning
forgiveness is the perfect way to reach back into the past and
heal any event or any relationship that seems broken, lost or
hopeless. When we do, all of the glories of Life open up to us,
new and fresh and beckoning.

Fear binds the world. Forgiveness sets it free. A Course

in Miracles

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

 Doesnt forgiving someone mean Im weak
11 or a loser?

No! Forgiving someone and especially, forgiving yourself, is

one of the strongest, most powerful things you can do.
Remember you forgive for your own inner peace, not for
someone else!

Our society has long rewarded the tough guy who fights back
and doesnt give an inch. In this distorted view of power,
winning is the only goal, and forgiveness is a sissys game. But
take a look - where has that attitude gotten us? Are you ready to
step on a radically different path your clear path to peace?
Youll be a stronger not a weaker person for it.

Im afraid the conflict will happen again. Why

12 should I forgive if s/he just does the same
thing all over again?

Forgiving doesnt mean you condone the behavior that

triggered the upset. It also doesnt mean that youre a doormat
or weak in any way! You dont have to keep giving in to people
who want to walk all over you. With forgiveness, you actually
take back your sovereignty, your dignity and your power. No
one controls you anymore. You make your own decisions.

That said, their behavior may be toxic and/or the person

involved may need counseling or even jail time. You may
never see him or her againbut keep in mind that forgiveness

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

 is a spiritual experience. It lives on the spiritual plane, and it
has the power to take you there.

What if I want him or her out of my life

13
forever?

If the person isnt safe for you to be around, then by all means,
do whatever it takes to stay away. But forever is a really, really
long time.

The person who hurt you in the human world is also part of
your soul family. Though you cant see it now, theres a silver
lining inside even the worst things that happened. This includes
your connection with this person, no matter how you feel about
him or her today.

In the course of your forgiveness practice, you may come to

understand some of the spiritual principles at work in the
situation. Thats not guaranteed, but it often happens.

You dont need to hang out with this person if it isnt safe. But
dont condemn them or your connection with them forever.
That doesnt match the loving energy of forgiveness. You
wouldnt want anyone to condemn you forever, would you?

What if my parents and friends dont

14 approve of my forgiveness?

Forgiveness is a personal matter between you and God or Life

or whatever you choose to call your creator. You dont have to

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

 tell anyone about it. In fact, Id recommend that you keep it to
yourself, at least for a while, so you can really feel the depth of
the changes youve made inside.

You dont need other peoples opinions to make the important

decision to forgive. When your family and friends see how
happy and at ease you become, theyll be happy for you. At
that point, you can choose to tell them if you want.

What is the connection between

15 forgiveness, inner peace and peace in the
world?
This kind of ecstatic, expanded forgiveness opens your
compassion for yourself, other people, and human society as a
whole. It will give you a freedom and relaxation in your own
skin that youve never dreamed of before.

The more you forgive, the more youll no longer feel dragged
down by depression, anxiety and sadness. Instead, youll get
new vitality and an increased ability to listen your intuitive
guidance, or the still, small voice within. This inner wisdom
will tell you how you can engage with the world in a way that
will bring you a sense of purpose. Your service and joy will go
far to increase the peace in the world.

Can I use forgiveness if Im not going to a

16 Christian church?
Yes. This kind of forgiveness is not a religious position, and
its open to everyone, whether you have a specific religious
path or not.

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

 Some Christians feel that Jesus died on the cross for their sins,
and therefore, they dont have any personal healing to do. In
my view, Jesus supports us to heal all of our pain by giving it to
Spirit, where true healing resides. Thats what we do when we
engage in this kind of forgiveness. But whether you have a
spiritual connection with Jesus or not, forgiveness can change
your life and bring you to inner peace and happiness.

What if the other person hasnt apologized

17 yet? Shouldnt I wait for an apology first, and
then see if I want to forgive?

You can certainly wait for an apology and see if you like it.
But, there are a few problems with this approach: You might
wait forever. You might not like the apology. Or maybe, the
person in question is dead or lives far away

In the meantime, youre still carrying this burden within you.

No one can take it away for youyou must do it yourself. But
like I said earlier, theres LOTs of help available to you! Learn
to forgive and let go of the heaviness in your heart. Then, if you
get an apology, youll be able to receive it gracefully, because
youll already be free.

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

About Ana Holub & Clear Path To Peace:

To help you on your path to peace, I offer emotional healing,

forgiveness counseling and conflict resolution. I work as a
counselor, mediator, author, and poet. From my own difficult
childhood to becoming a successful counselor, I know firsthand the
benefits of using forgiveness as a tool for inner peace, joy and
freedom.

My academic training is in Peace Studies (BA, Union Institute)

and Dispute Resolution (MA, Pepperdine Law School). I've also
completed domestic violence counselor training, 12 step work,
hospice training and Radical Forgiveness certification. From 2003-
2011, I was a guest teacher at San Quentin Prison through the
Insight Prison Project's Violence Prevention course.

Everything I do with my clients is geared toward greater self-

knowledge, release of fear and pain, and deepening of intuitive
wisdom.

I teach an original, step-by-step process that has already benefited

thousands of people. You can use it for letting go of all kinds of
emotional pain about the past: family relationships, divorce,
business blow-ups, illness and self-forgiveness.

See my website for information about my books, CDs, e-courses, and

FREE DOWNLOADS: www.anaholub.com. Call 530-926-4639
or email info@anaholub.com for a FREE CONSULTATION
about a private individual or couples session. Check the events page
for workshops and other upcoming events.

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace

TESTIMONIALS

What people are saying about Ana:

Ana Holub is the Indiana Jones of self-discovery! Victoria

Song, healer and writer, Mt. Shasta, CA

Ana is an incredibly gifted guide for emotional healing. She

helped me reverse my lifelong pattern of repressing and running
from pain. With her support, I learned how to stay present with and
embrace whatever emotions arise. Thanks again for the huge
contribution you made to my life! Andrew Oser, non-profit
consultant

Im feeling a quiet joy, and I notice that fear and anxiety are not
running the show. Curiosity has taken their place. KK,
Boulder, CO

I absolutely touched a new place of forgiveness today. I learned a

simple, effective approach to the heavy loads Ive been carrying,
and how to work with that in a way that lays a path through the
darkness. Anon

Ana Holub is remarkably gifted at helping people come back to

their Soul Nature. She will guide you gently to a place of trust,
helping to break apart the illusions of unworthiness and shame
with such purity and commitment to truth that there really is no
time for staying stuck. When I have sessions with Ana, I feel as
though Ive done months of work in two hours. Anas complete
presence in body, spirit, and words has allowed me to make huge
shifts in my thinking and ways of being. A.K, San Francisco

Find your freedom with forgiveness. Ana Holub

Copyright 2011 Ana Holub & Clear Path to Peace