Forgiveness, in the world of psychology, is the process of an individual feeling victimized or hurt by someone else and then deciding to let go of those feelings and release them from taking up so much room in your mind. Sometimes that is quick, and sometimes that may take some time, but the power of forgiveness is real.
Forgiveness is not about the other person; it’s always about you. When you hold on to grudges or bitterness, you think you are proving a point or getting even or standing up for yourself when the other person may not be affected at all. They may have moved on, and you are the only one still feeling the pain of the past.
When you forgive, you replace the negative emotions with a positive attitude. If you forgive another person, it does not mean that they are right or excused for their behavior; it just means you no longer want to carry the burden.
Free yourself from the control of the other person, learn something from it that can help you in the future. Forgiveness brings you peace to go on with your life. To live marvelously during our short time on earth.
Plus, forgiving others and releasing all that negativity can do wonderful things for your health. “There is an enormous physical burden to being hurt and disappointed,” says Karen Swartz, M.D., director of the Mood Disorders Adult Consultation Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease, and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health. From this article on Hopkinsmedicine.org.
Who do you need to forgive?
- The person who told you to quit because you were not good enough.
- Your client who gave you a bad review.
- The competitor who stole your sale.
- People who make fun of you.
- Someone who didn’t love you.
- Your partner who doesn’t acknowledge your needs.
- People who like to share their differing opinions with you.
- You yourself for not completing a project or failing at a new endeavor.
Acknowledge how they have hurt you, learn from the event, stop playing the victim, and take control of your life.
In every scenario, you can use the power of forgiveness to release the control they have over you and your emotions. What would it feel like to not have to worry about that anymore? Think about all the space you open in your mind to allow more positive feelings to exist.
Holding on to grudges and bitterness and keeping yourself in the realm of this negative energy leads to more negative feelings coming back to you. Use the Emotional Scale to find better feelings and move your way up to the field of positive energy. It’s a much nicer way to live.
Everyone needs to learn this lesson in their own way, so I found 17 quotes that all show the power of forgiveness. Which one speaks to you?
17 Forgiveness Quotes
“Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.” Suzanne Somers
“Forgive others not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” Jonathan Lockwood Huie
“Forgiveness means meeting yourself and everyone else totally without judgment.”
“Forgiveness is the key to happiness.” ACIM
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.” Louis B Smedes
“Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
“Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.” Anonymous
“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” –Robert Muller
“Always forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much.” –Oscar Wilde
“If you can’t forgive and forget, pick one.” –Robert Brault
“As long as you don’t forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy a rent-free space in your mind.” –Isabelle Holland
“I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.” Booker T. Washington
“You either get bitter, or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down.” Josh Shipp
“Happiness is a choice. Forgiveness is a choice. Acceptance, anger, desire, love…all choices. Your time. Your choice.” Scott Shaw
“When I talk of forgiveness, I mean the belief that you can come out the other side a better person. A better person than the one being consumed by anger and hatred.” Desmond Tutu
“People often ask how I can ever forgive the Nazis. I don’t have the godly power to anoint anyone with forgiveness, to spiritually cleanse others for their wrongs. But I have the power to free myself. So do you.” Edith Eger
“Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.” Eckhart Tolle
My favorite will always be the one by Edith Eger. If she can forgive others for the atrocities that happened during the Holocaust, I can forgive them for the petty grievances that might come up in my life.
Allow the power of forgiveness to set your mind free today!
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How to Let Go of Guilt and Forgive Yourself