“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” -Mahatma Gandhi
If you want to heal your life you need to start forgiving. Healing is the reward that comes from forgiveness.
I feel there is so much confusion out there about what it really means to forgive. Many people feel that if they forgive someone for a hurt or injustice then what that person did or said was okay and we are letting them off the hook so to speak. This could not be further from the truth.
When we choose not to forgive, the person we are holding hostage is ourselves. All of that anger and resentment is only hurting us and creating tension in our bodies. It is hanging onto the hurt and allowing that hurt to affect us that stop us from finding the true power of forgiveness.
Many people feel that by not forgiving, they are inflicting a form of punishment and guilt that gives them power. Again, not true. They are only punishing themselves and they are in fact giving their power away.
Another common misconception about forgiveness is that when you forgive someone you have to pretend that something didn’t happen and remain friends or partners. Again, not true. You can forgive these people, wish them well and let them go from your life if that is what feels right for you. On the other hand, forgiveness can heal relationships and make them better than ever. You will never know until you forgive and let go of the past.
Forgiveness does not only include others, it also includes forgiving ourselves. We have to learn to forgive ourselves and find compassion with our own mistakes, faults and imperfections if we are ever to find that same level of compassion and forgiveness with others.
In fact forgiveness always starts with self. The harder we are on ourselves the harder we will be on others.
What are you holding onto that you are not forgiving? See if today you can let it go and find the peace and healing that forgiveness can bring to your life.
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