Letting go of grudges and bitterness in order to feel peace and joy.
Nearly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another person. Those wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger, bitterness and even vengeance. Forgiveness does not mean that you minimize or justify the wrong in any way. You can forgive someone without excusing the act. You don't have to like them, love them, or even want to see them again, but you do need to forgive them. Forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge in order to feel peace.
Remember, forgiveness is a powerful thing. Not only to make the other person feel good, but to heal yourself at the same time. Forgiveness brings a kind of calm that helps you concentrate on the more important things in life. It's not easy to muster up genuine compassion for those who have wronged you, but it is essential for a healthy lifestyle. You cannot allow anger towards them to eat away at you. You need to forgive others. Forgive them for not being there. Forgive them for being the wrong kind of person. Forgive them for not treating you as you would treat them. By allowing forgiveness in your life, you also allow yourself to embrace peace, hope, joy and gratitude.
I know that a lot of this is easier said than done. I am guilty myself of holding grudges. When you are betrayed by someone you love and trust, you become angry, confused, sad, but mostly it just hurts. If you allow yourself to dwell on the hurtful events or situations, resentment and hostility can control your life. If you allow those negative feelings to crowd out the positive feelings, you will be swallowed up by bitterness. That is no way to live. Instead, find something positive in the situation. Forgive them for your own well-being. If you cannot forgive others, you can never really forgive yourself. And let's face it, we have all made mistakes that need forgiving.
This holiday season, find forgiveness and gratitude in your heart. You will be amazed by positive impact on yourself and others.
