The old saying, “Forgiveness is for you, not the other person” is a popular mantra that’s riddled in truth.
Interpersonal relationships are filled with tumultuous times, arguments and hurt feelings. It’s no wonder those in long-term relationships have to learn the art of forgiving.
While the journey to forgiveness is long, it’s definitely met with emotional plunder. However, the emotion of it all makes the destination worthwhile.
If you’re struggling to forgive someone for a past hurt, consider why you should bite the bullet and take action towards moving on. This will help you gain clarity and peace of mind regarding your future. It may even help to improve how you interact with others in general.
Forgiveness Is for You
There is a popular illustration that compares holding on to grudges as drinking poison and hoping the other person will die.
Holding on to past hurt only impact your overall health and well-being. The person on the receiving end of this hurt is probably living their life with no second thought to your or the situation.
If that’s the case, why would you hold on to something that isn’t even important in the eyes of someone else? It’s like slowly drinking the poison; hoping for the other person to have a reaction.
Forgiveness Relieves Stress
When you are constantly holding on to ill feelings, you’re damaging your mind and body. This increase of stress damages your thinking ability, motivation, and more.
However, when you choose to forgive, you’re letting go of all the negative emotions that once held you back. You aren’t tied down due to the behavior of others. Instead, you’re able to live a life that revolves around freedom.
Forgiveness Builds Relationships.
In any relationship, someone is bound to hurt the other person. Whether it’s different personalities or a difference of opinion, the odds of constantly getting along are minimal.
If you continue to hold on to the mistakes made to you, you aren’t giving your relationship a chance to grow. Instead, you’re being constantly reminded of the negative aspects of your relationship.
Therefore, try your best to resolve conflicts that are holding you back from forgiving someone. This is where honest communication comes in to the picture.
Discuss with your loved one how you feel. Don’t hold back from expressing how their actions affected you. By doing so, you’re addressing the ill behavior and making the person on the opposing end aware of their actions.
Once you forgive someone for their actions, you both have the freedom to move on. This will help you build a stronger and healthier relationship that’s guaranteed to stand the test of time.
Forgiveness is a Sign of Maturity
There’s nothing more mature than acknowledging that someone has hurt you and forgiving them. This shows that you have the maturity to look past their negative actions and move forward.
In addition, your maturity may rub off on the person on the receiving end. They may see your stance on the situation and feel remorse for their actions. This will help them to handle things better in the future and avoid the unnecessary behavior.
Forgiveness Increases Understanding
In order to forgive, you have to see both sides of the situation. This involves understanding why someone did what they did.
Once you come to a clear understanding, you’ll develop a healthy sense of compassion. This will help you understand human behavior and try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Forgiveness is an integral part of interpersonal relationships. If you’re wanting to work on your inner self and experience an overall sense of wellness, work on forgiving those who have wronged you in the past.
If this is something you need help with please reach out to work with me privately at www.2ofheartshavertoan.com
xo
Danielle
Empath empowerment coach
Tarot and astrology advisor