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Over the years you may have built up resentments and hostility towards others and the pain, anger and even hatred has festered, causing physical and emotional distress. Perhaps you were hurt so badly that the memories are too difficult to review or the situation is beyond anything you could repair. Is it possible to gather up the courage and commitment to give yourself a special gift and that is to begin the process of forgiveness?
Forgiveness is something you do for your well-being, not for others. It is a gift you give to yourself, a gift that helps you make peace with your past and brings harmony to your present.
Why should you forgive? Because the benefits outweigh the effort. A person who is able to forgive is free to love others, as well as him/herself. Forgiveness does not mean you forget. It means you settle the inner turmoil by letting go of the destructive thoughts that harbor inside and cause you distress and discomfort. To forgive means you take back control of your life and dissolve the dismal cloud that follows you wherever you go.
Ask yourself the following questions to gain some personal insight:
1. Are you worth more than the unsettling feelings you harbor?
2. How much effort are you willing to put into freeing yourself of this burden?
3. Can you take 100% responsibility for choosing to feel the way you do?
4. Is joy and happiness a possibility for you?
It takes maturity, some understanding and a belief that this “test” may be your greatest personal challenge. But, when you unlock those thoughts that kept you captive and in pain, you become renewed and liberated and can move on without the emotional baggage.
It’s an amazing feeling to forgive and a worthwhile lesson to learn. Because you do it for your emotional as well as your physical welfare, you become the victor, no longer persecuted by unpleasant memories from the past.
Author's bio: Amy Sherman, LHMC, is a licensed mental health counselor in private practice. Amy is the author of the ebook, “Distress-Free Aging: A Boomer’s Guide to Creating a Fulfilled and Purposeful Life” and “The Joy of Optimism” 10-Lesson eCourse. Visit http://www.bummedoutboomer.com and get a Special Report on Overcoming Adversity by signing up for her free e-newsletter. She can be reached at 561) 281-2975 or by email at amy@bummedoutboomer.com
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