The power of forgiveness
It is often said that forgiveness is not for the other party but for yourself; forgiveness is something you do to set yourself free.
It’s sometimes hard to look beyond the hurt that someone has caused you, but healing can only begin when you have come to terms with the wrong that has been done to you.
Here are some reasons why you should forgive, as well as steps on how to forgive.
1. You, too, are not perfect, and can make mistakes that can and will affect others.
2. Sometimes the offender is not aware that you had been hurt by what was said or done.
3. Forgiveness brings peace and ultimately adds to your good health.
4. Forgiveness opens the truth of love. When you forgive an act that really hurt you, you really are displaying love.
How to forgive
Step 1: Vent. Ventilate the issue, what was done and how you feel.
Step 2: Reflect. Reflect on all the things you have also done in the past that offended others.
Step 3: Reconcile. Make peace with yourself on the matter. Remind yourself that no one is perfect. Put yourself in the person’s shoes, if needs be, and try to understand their stance.
Step 4: Confront. Confront the individual who offended you. For something to be fixed, it must be acknowledged that it is broken. So talk to the person and let them know that what they said or did offended you.
Step 5: Resolve. In order to prevent future recurrence, come to some type of resolution for how you will move forward.
