Forgiveness

Here is something I haven't touched on yet. Forgiveness. This is a big deal on they way to self-improvement. Have I totally mastered it? Oh no, not yet. I'd like to think I've gotten better at it and I plan on to keep on working toward getting 100% on it.

There are many kinds of forgiveness, or rather should I say there are many things that will occur in our lives that will require forgiveness. Some can be fixed with a simple "I'm sorry" from the person that upset or hurt you in a mild manner. But others require participation from both parties. More serious issues, and I don't want to list what they are according to me because it all depends on you what is serious to you, need both (or all) people to come together and work on fixing the issue. The injured party has to be willing to accept the apology of the person who did the injuring. And sometimes easier said than done fits here.

No matter the size of the issue, you have to forgive. When the issue is not so big you may find it easy to say okay and let it all go. When you feel that feeling of letting the issue go, you will find that things are easier. Keeping a grudge does nothing but hurt you.

If a person is careless enough to hurt you, sometimes they may not even know what they did, then you find yourself all twisted up inside for really no good reason. You do need to say something to that person, short and sweet and to the point and give them a chance to apologize.

And on the opposite side of that, if someone says to you hey, that bothered me, don't get defensive, ask them to explain, listen completely, then apologize.

Sometimes, if you are the injured party and the injury - either physical or mental - is serious it may not be easy to accept the apology. I fully believe that some injuries are so severe that you feel that the other person does not deserve to be forgiven. But think of this - forgiveness isn't only for the other person, a lot of it is for you too. If you feel you can't forgive there will forever be a stain on your heart and in your mind. If a person who has injured you and you totally believe they don't deserve forgiveness, maybe they don't, but you do. You deserved to get that stain out of your heart. When you accept someone's apology that doesn't mean that all is well between the two of you, that you are now best of friends and will spend a lot of time together, unless that is what you want, it doesn't have to be.

But just the act of forgiveness will give to yourself what you need. When you've forgiven someone you can finally let that issue go. You have cut the rope that tied that weight to you and you will feel a sense of freedom and release that is necessary for you to move on with your life.

Forgiveness is a healing balm for your soul, and probably for the person who is asking for it. So with this you may very well be lucky enough to get a two-for-one.