Astro Iris I’ve probably heard this phrase a million times. Okay, maybe not a million, but enough to make me roll my eyes. I know I did—until a few years ago when I actually paid attention.
This little gem, “seventy times seven” is a nugget of wisdom passed down through sacred texts, like a cosmic breadcrumb trail for us to follow.
The holy books are full of these hints, each pointing us in a specific direction. If you’re curious enough to dig in and apply them, you get to “test drive” these clues in real life. And trust me, by the end of the experiment, you’ll have results that show just how well you followed the map.
The phrase “seventy times seven” comes from the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-22. (For the numerology buffs out there, 1+8+2+1+2+2=16, which reduces to 7—hello, divine wisdom!). It’s all about forgiveness. In a heart-to-heart between Peter and Jesus, we’re taught to genuinely forgive those who’ve wronged us (or at least, those we think have wronged us). And not just forgive once or twice, but seventy times seven.
Now, let’s do the math: 70 × 7 = 490. So, are we supposed to sit there, counting out loud or in our heads, “I forgive so-and-so” 490 times? If we did that, we’d be so focused on counting that we’d forget to actually forgive. It’d be like practicing for the World Counting Championships instead of healing our hearts. 😂
Here’s the real deal: “Seventy times seven” means forgiving someone who’s hurt you—over and over—until the pain, the sting, the anxiety, or whatever baggage they’ve dumped on you just… dissolves. You let it go, and it transforms into something else entirely. I call it absolute forgiveness. It no longer bothers you, it has no power over you, and poof—it’s gone. Like it never existed.
But here’s the cool part: this “seventy times seven” concept isn’t just for forgiveness. It’s a universal tool for building a better you.
Want to level up in any area of life? Apply it! Here’s how it works, depending on your personal goals:
Craving more discipline? Try the seventy-times-seven approach: wake up 70 minutes earlier than usual for 7 days straight. Rinse and repeat as many times as needed until discipline becomes your middle name. Keep at it, and boom—absolute discipline becomes your lifestyle.
Want to boost physical endurance? Add 70 minutes to your workout, toss in 70 extra push-ups, or do 7 additional sets of 10 reps for 7 days in a row. Tweak it to fit your needs. 🫶 Keep going until you hit your goal, then keep pushing. You’ll reach absolute endurance—it’ll just be who you are.
Hungry to learn more? Add 70 minutes of reading, studying, or learning for 7 consecutive days. Or tackle 70 extra pages a day for 7 days. Whatever you’re working on, apply the seventy-times-seven formula.
The list could go on forever. These examples show how this concept can be a game-changer. Stick with it, and it’ll weave itself into your life, becoming second nature—if you let it and if you’re serious about personal growth.
At its core, “seventy times seven” was gifted to us for forgiveness. Because when you forgive authentically, your life becomes authentic too—overflowing with love 🧡 and well-being, as much as you can handle.
One last thing, and it’s important: don’t confuse absolute forgiveness with absolute tolerance. Tolerating someone’s mistakes (or what you see as mistakes) can let bad behavior fester. Forgiveness, on the other hand, fosters acceptance and growth, not endless excuses for the same old nonsense.
So, with total confidence, I invite you to try the seventy-times-seven approach in whatever area of life you choose. You’ll see tangible, measurable results—and you might just uncover a hidden superpower within you.
