Forgiveness can change your life . . . .

At some time or another, we all get hurt by a person who either treats us badly, betrays our trust or breaks our heart.  And while this pain is normal, sometimes that pain lingers for too long. We get trapped in a cycle of anger and hurt, and miss out on the beauty of life as it happens. As hard as it may be, we need to learn to let go, to forgive, to allow ourselves to move on, and to be happy. Forgiveness can change your life. It doesn't mean you erase the past, or forget what has happened.  It merely means that you are letting go of the anger and pain, and moving on to a better place. 

When you allow yourself to carry a grudge, it is you who suffers. You give power to the other person by allowing the hurt to rule your emotions. Holding on to a grudge allows the wrongful event to repeat itself in your head, and prevents you from moving on with your life. It literally handcuffs you to that negative past, and that's a heavy load to bear.  It will eventually devour you from the inside out! 

I understand that it's not always easy to forgive an offense, but what if your health depended on it? A grudge can take shape in your mind, then in your body, and if carried around long enough, the long-term stress can begin to make you physically sick. It can drain your energy, and leave you constantly fatigued. It will take a toll on your body, your mind, your happiness and your future. Things happen, and there will always be times when you are disappointed in people. Commit to letting go, and understand that you cannot control the actions of others. You can, however,  control your actions and your thoughts. You can stop reliving the hurt, you can choose to move on, and begin to focus on the things that bring you joy.

"To forgive is to set 
a prisoner free, 

and discover that 
the prisoner was you."

-Lewis B. Smedes

Partial text via zenhabits