We have all been hurt by something that someone we care about has said or done. The wounds from others can leave you with lasting bitterness, anger, and sometimes, even wanting revenge. But, the one who will pay the biggest price will be the one who does not forgive.
Forgiveness is a decision to let the hurtful act go. Not to forget about it, but to release yourself from continuing to feel bogged down with those feelings of resentment and anger. It frees you up and allows you to feel peace. It allows you to focus on the other, more positive things in your life. Forgiveness may even allow you to feel empathy and understanding for the other person.
If you are unable to forgive or refuse to forgive someone, it may leave you engulfed in anger and bitterness to the point that it leaks out into your other relationships, making it hard or even impossible to have a good close relationship with anyone. It can take over your life and hold you back from the things that are really important. You may even become depressed, feeling that your life has no meaning or purpose.
One way for begin to forgive is to realize what a difference it would make in your life and the value it has to you. Think about the situation and about how holding a grudge or anger has affected your life. When you feel like you are ready, actively choose to let go of the feelings of anger and resentment, this will relieve you of the control that the other person has had on your life. Let go of your role as victim and you will no longer define your life by the fact that that other person hurt you.
In forgiving the other person, you are allowing yourself to have the freedom you deserve. No one should be held in bondage by something someone else has said or done. You deserve to have a happy, healthy life without a dark cloud of anger following you around. The revenge isn’t worth the pain.