How large is your capacity for forgiveness? Author and motivational speaker Immaculée Ilibagiza grew up in a small village in Rwanda, Africa. With her loving parents and three brothers, Immaculée excelled in school and eventually went on to study electrical and mechanical engineering at the National University of Rwanda. However, her life took a dramatic turn in 1994.
On April 6 of that year, the assassination of the Rwandan President ignited months of massacres targeting Tutsi tribe members across the country. To protect his daughter from rape and murder, Immaculée's father instructed her to seek refuge at a local pastor's house. There, she hid with seven other women in a cramped 3 x 4-foot bathroom for the next 91 days. Amidst the genocide raging outside, Immaculée battled anger and resentment, which threatened to consume her mind, body, and spirit. It was in this desperate state that she turned to prayer, clutching a set of rosary beads her father had given her. Through prayer and faith, she found the strength to resist hate, even using this dark time to teach herself English using only a Bible and a dictionary.
Emerging from her hiding place after 91 days, Immaculée faced a harrowing reality—her entire family, except for one brother studying abroad, had been brutally murdered. She also discovered the massacre of nearly one million extended family members, friends, neighbors, and fellow Rwandans. Despite unimaginable suffering, Immaculée shocked the world by forgiving the man who had killed her mother and brother.
Immaculée Ilibagiza's story offers profound insights and actionable steps to strengthen emotional resilience, release burdens through forgiveness, and contribute to a greater shift in collective consciousness. To share Immaculée's message of healing and forgiveness, Sage and Tony Robbins are honored to present this powerful moment from a private event with their Platinum Partners in Mexico. Please enjoy!
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBOu2rE8Ljg&t=986s
SHOW NOTES:
[00:38] Tony’s Intro
[03:05] Disclaimer
[04:27] Lessons learned from the Genocide
[05:28] How the Genocide started
[07:18] Propaganda used to spread hatred
[09:00] Our Lady of Fatima’s warning
[10:00] Moment the killings started
[11:20] Last memory of her father
[13:45] Final message her father shared
[15:25] How life changed in just 3 days
[16:00] Hiding in a 3x4 space with 7 other women
[19:50] Learning to listen to the voice within
[21:45] The moment Immaculée met God
[24:50] Embrace hope/receive a sign
[26:05] A miracle happens
[28:22] Turning to the Bible for answers
[31:31] Not being ready to forgive
[31:55] The worst thing about anger
[35:50] A prayer from the heart can change you
[37:30] Learning to forgive through God
[42:24] Moment the anger went away
[44:11] Discovering that her family was among those killed
[45:55] Life's a gift and there are no guarantees
[46:56] Incredible examples of Immaculée’s prayers being answered
[50:27] Story behind her book being published
[53:52] Meeting the man who killed her family and forgiving him
[55:42] Immaculée’s message of hope
Tony Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. For more than four and a half decades, millions of people have enjoyed the warmth, humor, and dynamic presentation of Mr. Robbins' corporate and personal development events. As the nation's #1 life and business strategist, he's called upon to consult and coach some of the world's finest athletes, entertainers, Fortune 500 CEOs, and even presidents of nations.
The Fourth Turning | What past generations can teach us about our future
What does it mean to be a father? | An exclusive conversation with Tony, Sage, and Mary B. on the difference between a dad and a father
Your Success is 80% Psychology | How to Use Mindfulness and Meditation to Prime Your Nervous System for Peak Performance
The Power of Unconditional Love | An exclusive conversation with Sage Robbins
Sneak Peek: Q & A w/ Tony Robbins During Last Year’s Free Breakthrough Challenge
Netflix’s I Am Not Your Guru five years later, with Filmmaker Joe Berlinger and Tony & Sage Robbins
How ClassPass & Dave’s Killer Bread built success | Tony talks with the creators at Business Mastery
Founder & CEO of Peloton talks heart, hunger & health | John Foley at Business Mastery
Karma, Consciousness, and Freedom | A Discussion with Sadhguru, Tony, and Sage Robbins
The Mic is Mightier than the Sword | Bishop T.D. Jakes & Tony Robbins in candid conversation
Breakthrough Brain Health for a Better Life | Life-changing Insights from Neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta
Financial Insights w/ Billionaire Jeffrey Gundlach | Discussing inflation, taxes & asset allocation
Simple ways to biohack your biology and save the planet in the process | Dr. Mark Hyman on his new book, The Pegan Diet
A Ringside Conversation w/ Boxing Legend Evander Holyfield | An Exclusive Interview With The Only 4x Heavyweight World Champion
The Multi-Trillion Dollar Market Cap | Part 2 of Tony’s conversation on the future of food, energy and space
The Future of Food, Energy and Space | Tony sits down with 4 visionary business leaders creating solutions to global problems
Make 2021 Your Best Year Ever | The Last Fireside Chat with Tony and Sage Robbins
How will we feed the next billion? | Tony's interview from XPRIZE: Future Positive
How to Trade Expectations for Appreciation | A Fireside Chat with Tony and Sage Robbins (Part 2)
Find the Blessing | An Intimate Fireside Chat with Tony and Sage Robbins (Part 1)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The One You Feed
Everything is Alive
Tara Brach
On Being with Krista Tippett
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris