We all make mistakes. We are not perfect. When we do something that hurts another person, or even ourselves, it is only natural to feel resentment.
However, harboring resentment can cause us great harm emotionally and physically. Forgiving someone else – or ourselves – is one of the most important things we can do for our mental and physical health.
Let’s explore forgiveness and how to let go of resentment.
WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?
Forgiveness does not mean that you condone someone else’s behavior or your own. It also doesn’t mean that you forget something and move on as if nothing ever happened; forgiveness is a process of letting go.
Forgiveness means that we understand a situation, accept it for what it is, and release ourselves from anger, resentment, blame, and guilt.
We do this because forgiveness allows us to free ourselves from the shackles of pain caused by another person’s actions (or our own) so we can live more fully in the present moment instead of hanging onto anger about past events.
Forgiveness can end our suffering and make moving forward possible for all parties.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FORGIVENESS?
Forgiveness has many health and well-being benefits. Studies show that forgiveness is linked to:
- Better heart health
- Decreased stress
- Lower blood pressure
- Fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Stronger relationships with others
- Greater sense of overall peace
Forgiving someone else or ourselves allows us to move on from whatever happened in our pasts so we can get back to enjoying life. It also helps us heal from any hurt we may have suffered because of what happened (or what we did).
When you seek forgiveness, you can release negative emotions associated with the situation. You can then let go and allow for true healing to begin.
WHAT IS RESENTMENT?
Resentment is a feeling of anger or displeasure that occurs when we feel like someone has mistreated us. Perhaps someone said something unkind, did something hurtful, neglected responsibilities, or abused our trust in some way. Resentment can be directed towards another person or even ourselves, and it’s often the result of wrongdoing.
It may also stem from jealousy; if you are jealous of someone else because they seem to have more than you do in life, this could cause feelings of resentment towards them or even your self-worth. Whatever the reason for harboring such negative emotions, forgiveness will help you release those emotions to move forward with your life.
CAN I FORGIVE MYSELF?
Forgiving yourself for mistakes can be just as tricky as forgiving someone else, but forgiveness is possible in both cases. When you forgive others or even yourself, it doesn’t mean that what happened was okay. Forgiveness allows us to release anger and resentment and live more fully in the present moment instead of clinging to past hurts or things that have already occurred.All that said, forgiveness can be a tricky process surrounded by a whirlwind of emotion. Reach out today, and we can partner together in sifting through what’s troubling you so you can let go of some of that pain and get back to seeking a joyful life.