My difficulty is the relationship with my mother. I want to forgive her.

What feelings arise? 

I feel defensive and confused.

How does it affect you? 

Unfortunately, the environment of my home for the past few years has created a set of defensive walls which surround me at all time.

What is your part? 

I am now a part of the proliferation of mistreatment.

What are you learning? 

I will have to learn to drop arguments sooner.

What can you shift in your perspective?

I wish to grasp a means by which I can return to loving her as a son loves his mother so that she can fully love me. The change must be gradual, for it is not within my power to simply absolve her for all prior mistreatment.

How do you choose to work with this difficulty?

Apologize when I recognize I am out of line, despite the resentment, which urges me to continue fighting.

What is this difficulty teaching you?

Eventually, I will be able to forget the past.