Why Taylor Swift Needs a Lesson in Forgiveness

Have you heard “Look What You Made Me Do” yet? It’s one of the singles from T Swizzle’s new album, “Reputation.” Before reading on, I think you should take a listen to Taylor Swift’s new single “Look What You Made Me Do.”  I want you to hear the song because I am going to discuss and analyze her lyrics and explain to you why this pop-star needs a lesson in forgiveness.

 

  

Taylor Swift has found herself in a fair share of feuds throughout her career with other stars including Katy Perry, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian.  Now, Taylor keeps the “you” in “Look What You Made Me Do” vague, but it is obvious she isn’t happy with multiple people.  It sounds like Taylor Swift is seeking revenge as opposed to choosing forgiveness.

“I’ve got a list of names and yours is in red underlined”

This makes it clear that Taylor’s got a list of people she is seeking revenge on or whom she will never forgive.  Honestly, the negative energy she is putting into simply creating this list is not healthy.  It is her choice whether she wants to forgive them or not, but keeping those ill feelings isn’t good for her own wellbeing and I’d strongly urge her to choose forgiveness. It is understandable that she may still be holding tight onto what happened and what should have happened between her and the people on her list. I suggest she read the Prepare chapter in my book, “The Forgiveness Solution” so that she can warm up to the idea of forgiveness. Taylor needs to call upon her resources such as therapy, spiritual counseling, prayer, journaling, ceremony, or support from friends and family to help unravel the pain that she is keeping snarled up with un-forgiveness. It may take a long time, but eventually, I’d hope she’d come to choosing forgiveness so that she could be set free and move on.

“The world goes on, another day, another drama, drama / But not for me, not for me, all I think about is karma / And then the world moves on, but one thing’s for sure / Maybe I got mine, but you’ll all get yours”

Taylor wants to teach these people a lesson.  I see this as Taylor trying to control them and get sweet revenge.  She has to let go of trying to control other people’s behavior and understanding the relationship for the good and bad.  Maybe her expectations were too high for these people and she wasn’t appreciating them for what they did bring to the relationship.

“Look what you made me do”

The chorus of Taylor’s song is the same as the title, “Look What You Made Me Do.”  This repeated lyric makes it clear that Taylor is blaming the people on her list for her ill feelings, compelling her to release this song with vague threats.  She is not thinking about forgiveness whatsoever and is focusing on the other party’s wrongdoing.  Taylor will never find the peace of forgiveness within herself if she doesn’t hold herself accountable and take responsibility for being a part of the conflict.  She sees herself as the victim. In order to forgive these people, Taylor will also have to forgive herself.  We often have so much anger and pain towards others that it is hard to see the pain we have towards ourselves. The people on Taylor’s list didn’t cause her to act in a certain way, that was her own choice to not be her best self.  

Taylor Swift’s first step will have to be saying, “I want to forgive, I want to let this go.” Maybe she doesn’t even know that path exists yet!  She may only know the pain and sadness the people on her list caused her.  I hope she gets around to declaring she wants to forgive them though for her own sake.  It will be a hard and bumpy road, but it will lead her to a higher quality life. Otherwise, she will view herself as the victim her whole life, ultimately making the sad or terrible events define her.  Those events are not who Taylor Swift is, but she has to be the one to decide to do something about the resentment and hurt.

Taylor should use her list to identify the people she wants to forgive rather than seek revenge upon.  She then needs to write about the stories between her and the people.  This could change the course of her pain and she may write herself honest.  Taylor has to start by apologizing to these people and try to make amends.  It can be the beginning of reconciling relationships in her life and healing wounds, allowing her to lead a healthier and happier life.  Still waiting to hear a song about forgiveness!

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