Forgiving those who have hurt or betrayed us is no easy gesture, but it is the first step towards healing.
Dr Phil McGraw, the expert on life and relationships who appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show from time to time, often asks people who come to him for advice: “How does it work for you?” This is a question we can ask ourselves almost every day about the way we handle problems and obstacles that come our way.
If you struggle to forgive people, think for a minute what being angry and holding grudges have done for you in your life. The answer most people will come up with is that it didn’t solve any problems or made the hurt go away. In fact, being mad at someone can do you more harm than forgiving him or her. Therefore, forgiving is more about you than the person who wronged you! You are the one spending energy on the matter, you are the one who is suffering from high blood pressure, anxiety, heart palpitations…
Your anger makes you a slave of the person or people who have hurt you, while forgiving them sets you free. Nothing good has ever come from anger or hate.
Make the decision today; forgive them and move on. You’ll be surprised at how good you feel.
If you have difficulty in forgiving those who wronged you, call your EAP. Talking about the matter may help you work through the feelings, bringing you to the point where you will be able to forgive.