Forgiveness is the key. Forgiving allows us to deal with, and then look past all the hurt and consequences of the offense. Forgiving pardons the offender and the offense. This does not mean to forget, in fact, we must remember as a way to remind ourselves that we too might be guilty of the same.
Usually when we hurt another person or ourselves it is unconscious, the act of forgiveness is always a conscious decision. The act of forgiveness allows unconscious actions to come into the light of awareness. Forgiving others does not fix their mistakes; we forgive them to release ourselves from the heavy burden of holding grudges and carrying bitterness in our heart. It accomplishes something even greater than that, it allows us each the space to let go of past mistakes while helping to cultivate a deeper sense of compassion for ourselves (and others). Sometimes, when we are unwilling to forgive, it helps to remember that we, too, may someday require another person’s forgiveness. An attitude of forgiveness is a little easier to develop when we remember that we are all doing the very best we can. And someday we, too, will need forgiveness. Forgiving others not only frees those we forgive; it frees us from the poison of resentment and anger.
Vinod C. Dixit
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
