The Power of Forgiving

When you’re mad at someone who has mistreated you or done something almost unforgivable, the person who is suffering is not them, it’s YOU!  That miserable feeling that you get each time you see them, that anger that builds up – you’re the one suffering not them.  Understanding the power of forgiving will help you feel better inside, help you move on, and help you get over this person/this action completely and with no ill feelings.

You see when someone has hurt you – family member, boyfriend/girlfriend, even co-workers; no one feels that pain like you.  Yea, they may say they feel bad and they’re sorry, but no one can understand the depth of that pain; that heartache that you feel, especially when you’ve been wronged in a really bad way.

You would think it should go away with time, but each time you see that person you start feeling anxious, you get angry all over again, you want to reach out and slap them, right?  And what are they doing?  Smiling, asking how you’re doing, or even sometimes trying to give you a hug or shake your hand.  While all this is going on, your brain is racing, thinking about how they hurt you, how much you want to get back at them, how you want to see them hurt just like you’re hurting.

This only means that you haven’t gotten over the situation and before you can regroup from this hurt, you have to let it go.  You have to realize that no matter how hard you think, how much you wish, or how much you will bad things for them, they’re life will go on, they’re walking around like nothing ever happened.   

Yes, it’s easier said than done.  A family member betrayed your trust, a boyfriend/girlfriend slept with your best friend, a coworker stabbed you in the back to get a promotion – whatever the problem was, it’s over, it’s done, and you need to let it go.  No, you will never forget, but as soon as you let the pain and the heartache release itself from your body, you will immediately feel better.  Once you realize that you’ve done nothing wrong, you’re not the one with the problem, and you’re better off not having them as a friend, you will feel refreshed, like a heavy burden has been lifted from your shoulders. 

That is exactly what’s happening.  That dark cloud is no longer hanging over your head. You’re releasing all of that anger, that frustration, and sometimes even that hate that you have for the person.  Once you’ve done this, you can see them and not feel any type of way, you can greet them – and no you don’t have to be buddy-buddy or even hug them, but you can look them in the eye and not flinch, not look away quickly, not feel the tears coming quickly.

Yes, once the anger is released, you can go on with your life and forget about those who have hurt you or who mean you not good, because they’ve moved on a long time ago.   Yes, the power of forgiving is a benefit for you and only you. Don’t let someone else’s wrongdoing hinder you. It only hurts you.