When people feel offended, hurt, angry or resentful as a result of something that has happened, it is helpful for them to understand the value of forgiveness. Holding a grudge can be very confining because it creates stress by consuming people’s thoughts. While it’s easy to harbor negative feelings toward someone who has committed an offense, it is important to learn what it means to forgive and how doing so can be very liberating.
What is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is the process of releasing resentment, anger and negativity in order to create internal peace. It is a way of pardoning, excusing, absolving or exonerating others for perceived offenses that have captured an individual’s thoughts and feelings. Resentment creates internal anxiety and distress that manifests itself in physically, mentally and emotionally unhealthy ways. Letting go of that resentment allows the body and mind to regain a sense of balance and tranquility.
How to Forgive
Understanding the concept of forgiveness is so much easier than actually learning how to forgive. Even for those who desperately want to let go of resentment, stopping the anger and negative feelings from creeping back into the mind can be a challenging task. The best way to forgive is to replace the bitter feelings with positive thoughts.
Techniques for Forgiveness
There are a variety of techniques through which people can release resentment and welcome serenity into the mind and body. Sometimes people become offended when they believe that another person has purposely caused them harm. Looking at the situation from the other person’s perspective and choosing to believe that the intentions were good can be a helpful start to forgiving.
Reciting words of encouragement, affirmations and forgiveness quotes can also be useful for replacing negative thoughts and feelings with kinder images. Visualizing the resentful thoughts floating away from the mind and inviting forgiveness through the law of attraction are other effective techniques. And, using a combination of all of these approaches can be extremely powerful.
The Benefits of Forgiveness
There are many benefits associated with forgiveness, but the greatest advantage comes in the form of personal freedom. The act of forgiving releases mental and emotional burdens and creates an opening through which to welcome peace and tranquility. Just like taking a deep breath and discharging anxiety from the body results in increased relaxation, letting go of resentment frees the mind and body of uneasiness and concern.
Forgiveness is also beneficial because it allows for the healing of relationships, transformation of the mind to positivity, and a wealth of personal growth. Additionally, once the art of forgiveness has been learned it can be easily applied to future situations.
Learning the Value of Forgiveness and How to Forgive Others
The value of forgiveness and methods of forgiving are easy concepts to understand, but it can be very difficult to truly release the anger and negativity associated with perceived wrongdoing. Using the suggested techniques of positive thinking, recital of affirmations and quotes, visualization and the law of attraction can help people successfully transition from the confining feeling of resentment to the freedom of peace of mind. Concentration and focus will allow healing thoughts to evolve.
