Forgive To Live: Free Yourself of Emotional Baggage
If you look up the word 'forgive' in the dictionary, one of the definitions you'll find is: to cease to feel resentment against. Forgiving, ceasing to feel resentment against, someone or something benefits who? You. Forgiving benefits YOU.
Forgiving, ceasing to feel resentment against,that's all about you, not them. Granted, they might also benefit if you no longer feel resentment toward them, but the change occurs within YOU when you forgive another, not the reverse. The decision to forgive is yours. The act of forgiving is an act YOU undertake, and the feelings changing as a result are yours, as well.
For a very long time, I was unwilling to forgive certain people in my life. I held close the feelings of anger and resentment over how they had betrayed me and wore them like a protective shield. I vowed no one would EVER hurt me like that again. Over time, my protective shield began to prevent me from connecting with new people, new friendships and extending my friendship to others. Ultimately, who did this hurt? Me. I had unknowingly allowed my unwillingness to forgive to control and shape my life - and not in a positive way, I might add.
Today I look at forgiveness as a way to set down the emotional baggage of past hurts and walk away stronger than before. If you think about it - how can you receive the blessings of today if your hands are holding tightly to resentments of yesterday? You can't go back and change what happened or force the offender to make amends, but you CAN decide to live a happy life.
The person I'm forgiving may or may not even know of my forgiveness - that is not the point. I am the one miserable with my negative feelings and emotions - not them. They may or may not even know I'm harboring resentments. Meanwhile, I'm seething and miserable. By forgiving, I set myself free.
If the whole idea of forgiving feels beyond you at the moment, either because you are still too angry and upset (and likely wanting your pound of flesh) or because forgiving still feels to you like you're saying, "Oh, it's ok..." then try replacing the word 'forgive' with the words 'cease to feel resentment against' and see if that makes a difference for you. "I cease to feel resentment against you for what you did," might be a more empowering way for you to say, "I forgive you for what you did."
Related Tags: relationships, healing, forgiveness, forgive, empowering, forgiving, how to forgive, power of forgiv
Suzanne Bird-Harris is an accomplished writer, trainer and coach with more than 20 years experience assisting women in stealing back their thunder by shortening their learning curves in life. Steal YOUR thunder back by registering for her FREE newlsetter (a $257 value) at http://www.LearningCurveCoaching.com You'll also receive the 7 emails that created such a stir for women this past December. Look for them in your inbox beginning today when you register!
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Manners, Aikido, And Ki Moments
In a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, columnist Peggy Noonan discussed the disappearance of man - How To Cope With Being Made Redundant
Being made redundant is not just about money and what money can buy. It is often the psychological e - What Are The Side Effects Of Stress
We live in a fast paced world that never seems to sleep. For many people they try to cram as much ac - Feel Better With Stress Management
Stress may be largely thought of as a mental problem,but it does contain its own material manifestat - Help With Stress - A New Effective Technique For Fast Relief
There are many symptoms that sufferers experience when they are dealing with stress, too many to go - How To Relief Stress When Faced With Challenges In Life
The myriad of issues facing us constantly mean we find a good avenue to relief stress. We live a lif - Anxiety Disorders Symptoms - Treatment For Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders symptoms are diverse and include things such as social anxiety, Post-Traumatic Str - Overlooking Data Revenue Could Kill Your Current Campaign!
Most online marketers have access to data but many don't realize the true value in it. NOT monetizin - The Five Step Approach To Managing Anger
If something happens that makes you feel angry (like not being allowed to go to a party until you cl - How Kinesiology Can Help With Stress
Stress is one of the biggest problems in the western world and may be caused by a variety of differe
Most viewed articles in this category:
- No More Stress: Stress Relief Ideas
I hear it everywhere, read it everywhere-everybody's stressed out. The mad rush of daily activities - Feeling Suicidal
The thought has crossed my mind but I am too optimistic about tomorrow and I can't handle my enemies - Home surveillance equipment - options and tips
Our world is not such a safe place to live in. Crime and robbery is on the rise and hence more and m - Getting laid with organic
The ‘organic movement’ has now entered the bedrooms. Organic bedding and mattresses are - Stress - Is It Really As Bad For Your Health As You Think?
It has been known for many years that stress can affect your health but we are only now beginning to - 7 Tips for Relaxation
In modern society there are so many pressures on our time and lives that it can seem difficult to be - An Older Sister's Coping Secret
Being born as the oldest or older sister in a family seems to have a strong impact on our personalit - Panic Attack Self Help
A panic attack is a time of powerful, often momentarily disabling, sense of extreme fear or mental d - Crisis Intervention - What To Do in the Event of a Crisis? Part 2
A crisis is a window of opportunity for spiritual growth. You don't need to be a social worker or co - Toxic Guilt, Healthy Guilt