Finding forgiveness can be one of the most difficult roads to navigate. In some ways, it’s easier to be angry. Anger can feel like the just thing to do, but no one wins in anger, especially you.
My most difficult road with forgiveness has been forgiving myself. I have an easier time being empathetic with others, but I’ve learned the hard way about the huge blessings that come from forgiving yourself.
I have made huge mistakes in my life. I’ve done many things I am not proud of and I have allowed guilt to take up large amounts of space in my heart. I’m not saying guilt doesn’t have its place. When you do something that you know is wrong, you should feel bad, but getting past that guilt is where you really find power in making things right.
For the majority of my life, I have viewed life as a test. Pass or fail. Good or bad. Black and white. Heaven and Hell. I don’t view life this way anymore and it has brought tremendous light.
Instead of feeling like I have to punish myself for my imperfections, I have learned the process of feeling that guilt, but then moving forward and learning from the experience.
Learning is where all the magic lies. We cannot change the past, but we can learn and grow from our experiences and our mistakes. When we truly commit to change and forgive ourselves, our ability to help others comes full circle.
I love my imperfect life because it has allowed me to have empathy for others in a way that I couldn’t any other way. My mistakes allow me to see the world through different glasses that I am so grateful for.
Forgiving others carries just as much importance as learning to forgive yourself. I have been that person who holds a grudge. I have held grudges for years and it has never served me well.
Anger doesn’t just magically disappear. You have to work hard to forgive people who have hurt you deeply. I have been good at burying my pain and then it always resurfaces in an explosive manner. Learning to process my pain with my therapist has been the key for me in truly forgiving people who have done me wrong.
It’s my job to forgive and I allow God to be the judge now. Understanding where others have come from has also played a large role in my ability to forgive. When I do some digging into why a person is the way they are or why they may have taken the actions they have I become more sympathetic and forgiveness is easier to find.
My last key to forgiveness has been found in gratitude. It’s hard to be angry and grateful in the same space.
If you have people in your life, including yourself that you have a hard time forgiving, I hope you will take the challenge to learn and grow from the experience, find understanding, and do the hard work. Forgiveness lifts a burden you don’t deserve to bear.
For more tips on forgiveness. Click HERE.
