Home Personal development Let Forgiveness Set You Free

Let Forgiveness Set You Free

by Vidya Sury September 7, 2018 10 comments
Forgiveness sets you free.

Forgiveness is a tool for healing.

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.

Life isn’t perfect. And like it or not, getting hurt is part of it. When it is unintentional, of course we wish we could rewind time and delete what happened.

Well, the next best thing is practicing forgiveness.

I know forgiving doesn’t always come easily when we feel hurt and wronged. Why, every time my Mom serenely told me to let it go, forgive, I wasn’t always comfortable with that. I’d think—how can sheforgivenes be so cool about the injustice in her life? How can she smile and shrug off people being nasty, saying hurtful things?

Sometimes, friendships/relationships break up over a misunderstanding and the people involved make their own assumptions about why things came to pass. The feeling of being let down stays. There’s finger pointing.

And all the while, the anger, or some form of it festers inside.

The problem, however, is this. While anger feels good and venting feels therapeutic, keeping it eats away our happiness. We end up wasting precious energy we need for other important things. We become unhappy.

Over the years, I’ve realized that the longer I harbor a grudge and refuse to forgive, the more miserable I feel. And who wants to nurture that feeling of misery? Better to calm down, and yes, you guessed it, forgive.

We are fortunate to have a choice: come to terms with the situation and release the painful memories so we can move on with our lives.

Easier said than done, right?

 “Forgiveness is not something we do for other people; we do it for ourselves – to get well and move on.”

I don’t know about you, but I remember thinking, a long time ago, that forgiving someone lets them get away with what they’ve done.

Right?

Not true.

Forgiveness is all about releasing the suffering so we can feel better. And suffering is nobody’s favorite feeling.

Life is too precious to put yourself through the torture of hanging on to sad stuff.  And yes, life IS unfair sometimes. So—why add to it by lugging that baggage around?

Set yourself free.

If you are still sitting on the fence, wondering why you should forgive, here are some solid reasons:

  • You feel much better, liberated. Once you forgive, the resentment that was eating away at you leaves you. You let go of the pain. This makes life better.
  • It is healthy to forgive. Resentment and anger cause extreme stress and this affects your health. Stress causes disease. You are aware that our mind body connection translates what we think into what we feel. When you forgive, it frees you from stress. It keeps your blood pressure in check, and your immune system healthy. Your lower your chances of developing back pain, headaches and tummy aches.
  • When you forgive, people like you more. Now think: would you approach someone who looks like she’s full of grudges or someone who looks at peace with herself?
  • Forgiveness keeps off that feeling of misery every time you think about how hurt you felt—simply because you’ve dealt with the situation.
  • When you obsess over the negative, it can result in mental health issues. Of course it is not easy to forgive. But the price you pay by not forgiving is too high—emotional and physical stress, unhappiness.

“Anger makes you smaller; while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were”

A step by step guide to forgiveness. Forgive and heal yourself. #personaldevelopment #mindfulness #selfhelp

How to practice forgiveness?

One of the best ways to forgive is by practicing gratitude

Gratitude is a wonderful way to start practicing forgiveness as it allows us to focus on the good things and appreciate what we have. It gives us a fresh perspective on things, encouraging us to forgive.

Try looking at the situation from a different angle. Instead of feeling like the victim, why not see ourselves as survivors?

To forgive, you have to be objective. Ditch the blame game.

And as annoying as it sounds, walk in the shoes of the person who hurt you.

See both sides of the story.

A step by step process to practice forgiveness

First, think about what happened. What was it that really hurt you? Talk to a trusted friend.

Now, do the following:

  • Allow yourself to feel better. Forgiveness is for you. Not for anyone else.
  • Understand the fact that forgiveness is not about reconciling with the person who hurt you or accepting what happened as okay. The goal here is to find peace, not take it personally. To change your perception of the situation.
  • It is important to see things from the right perspective after you get over the initial feelings of hurt and being upset.
  • Here’s something that’s crucial: let go of your need to get even with the person who hurt you.
  • Choose to be compassionate.
  • Now, time to move on.

I know it is a challenge, but one that’s well worth it. When you choose forgiveness, you choose not to be consumed by anger, bitterness and other toxic feelings that have larger repercussions on your health.

Forgiveness takes time

Naturally. Practicing forgiveness brings down the anger and stress. It fills you with hope and peace. It encourages healthy relationships. There’s an attitude of kindness and love, not bitterness.

When you choose not to forgive, it drains your energy, keeping you focused on the negative. It keeps you stuck in the past. It holds you back from who you can be.

When you release feelings of hurt helps divert valuable energy on what you want, rather than be stuck in that warp of what hurt you.

There’s an ancient forgiveness process followed by the Hawaiians.

They call it ho’oponopono.

This practice promotes a feeling of peace and calm towards a person or a situation, taking you to a state of harmony. It helps release resentment, anger and hurt that block the energy in our bodies.

How to practice ho’oponopono?

Ho’oponopono is an interactive process that works around the principle of giving and receiving. Here, both parties say “I forgive you. Please forgive me” to each another.

  • Both parties say all they have to say to each other and get their feelings out in the open without interrupting each other. They accept each other’s feelings and statements.
  • The next step is sending love to the person. It suggests opening your heart and offering love and compassion, both to yourself and the other person.
  • Finally let go of the hurt while keeping the learning.

The whole idea of ho’oponopono is to forgive the person and self, release all negative emotion and thought and move on.

Hmm.

Years ago, when I talked to my son about this, he asked me this question:

What if I don’t feel like forgiving?

Tricky, eh?

I confess I go through this sometimes, and I think it is fine not to forgive especially with some things that are hard to forget–but there’s a caveat: let go of all feelings of revenge. If you can, let things be. Whether or not the hurt was justified, for our own good, it is better to initiate healing. Try to come to terms with the situation.  I’d think that as long as we don’t nurture mean feelings for them, it is as good as forgiveness, right?

Life is short.

Forgive and heal yourself.

Question for you:

What are your views on forgiveness?

Do you think it is easy?

Tough?

Worth it?

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10 comments

Birgit September 8, 2018 at 8:12 pm

Oh, I have to admit I have a hard time with the word, “forgiveness” not the concept but the word. When I read the words here, I have to admit I have let things go, I no longer let the people who hurt me control me. I now feel free, I can talk about the abuse and bullying and I don’t have animosity to the kids who bullied me and for that man who abused me, he can no longer control me but I’m relieved he is dead. So I really want to see any of these people…no but I have no ill will. I just can’t use the word forgive. My hubby had a horrible, abusive father and, when I met my hubby, his anger, although justified, was strong. When his father contacted him and we found out he was dying, my hubby agreed to meet and that last month he was alive, my hubby brought him to a couple of medical appointments, we cleaned up his apartment and we visited him in the hospital. Once the man died, the anger my hubby had left. I could see it and it was nice to see. So can one “forgive”, I don’t know and maybe that is the right word but to move on, feel good and happy and know that maybe those harsh things that have happened is what shaped us to be better people in the long run. So I can’t use that word but I think I feel all the meanings to something positive from something horrible. I think I rambled here:j

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Vidya Sury September 8, 2018 at 8:31 pm

I get absolutely what you are saying, Birgit. I must confess I didn’t find it easy to let go of my grievances over a person even though she passed away, probably because, at that time, I felt I didn’t have that thing called closure. I never got to argue with her, sort it out with her. But over time, the feeling just dimmed and today, I know it is okay. It really doesn’t matter any more as there are nicer things to focus on. Funny how we change. And yes, these experiences and feelings do shape us and mostly make us better!

Thank you Birgit. Love you!

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Vinitha September 8, 2018 at 10:28 pm

I hear this always that forgiveness will bring you peace, but I haven’t had the strength to choose that path, still not. How can I forgive those people who still live like they haven’t done anything worth my forgiveness! I am struggling with this peace puzzle. But I would very love to experience that freedom forgiveness would bring me one day. ❤️
Vinitha recently posted…Wordless Wednesday 50

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Vidya Sury September 8, 2018 at 10:35 pm

Dear Vinitha! I understand. Perhaps try thinking that you are doing it for YOU. Not them. That’s a full change in perspective. Think of it as showing yourself self-love. Let go.

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How do we know September 9, 2018 at 12:16 pm

Vidya… like all your posts.. this one is truly wise too. And I really needed this one today. Maybe I will try this sometime soon. I don’t hold too many grudges. But its still hard to let go of the resentment one feels towards daily betrayals. Its as if people are out to set a new record of how much they can lie and cheat.

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Cathy Taughinbaugh September 14, 2018 at 2:50 am

Gratitude is a great way to begin to forgive. I have found that I’m able to let go and move on when I forgive. Holding on to grudges just keeps a person stuck with unnecessary burdens.

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Sandra Pawula September 14, 2018 at 11:46 pm

So much wisdom in this ;post! I don’t find forgiveness easy but I know it’s essential. I like to start with the aspiration to be able to forgive.It helps me move in the right direction.

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Lakshmi Manoj kumar September 15, 2018 at 11:29 am

Oh! Another beautiful one!
I realised lately that forgiving can be made possible as long as we are ready to do that. But it is not something simple which can be done in a day or in one time. It takes a while to remind yourself that it is ok to let it go and forgive the other person. In the end, it does gives so much of lightness within oneself. Like you said, it gives you peace and makes you feel light.

I did write something for the Write Tribe festival about forgiving and it is here if you like to read it – https://thespicyodyssey.blogspot.com/2018/06/forgiven-write-tribe-festival-of-words.html

It is not easy but it is definitely worth it.

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Deepa September 20, 2018 at 11:57 am

This is something I needed to read today. I agree we need to be forgiving as its good for our own peace but its easier said than done. I will try to keep these points in mind.

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Vidya Sury September 20, 2018 at 5:45 pm

Thank you Deepa. I think the important thing is to recognize and remember that forgiveness is for US, not the other person. Yes, it is hard. But worth it. Hugs!

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