Forgiveness is essential for a lighter life

“… forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us …”

We pray this prayer every day, but are we practicing it? Jesus left us the prescription for the diseases of the soul, but we do not even realize it! Forgiveness is such a well-known word, but difficult to put into practice! Do you know how to forgive? Can you forgive?

^{Photo: KatarzynaBialasiewicz}

I believe it is unnecessary to talk about forgiveness; but talking about what one lacks he or she is capable of doing better, though it is a common problem as well. However, it’s worth it. Forgiveness is an action, a decision, a choice, a true remedy for the soul. A feeling provoked by an issue in an interpersonal relationship, with the name of hurt, disgust, bitterness and resentment.

Relating is a demanding activity! It requires a stepping out of itself, constantly, because when we come into conflict with each other and even with ourselves, we can leave wounded, traumatized. Such traumas can produce unpleasant feelings that are hidden; and when they arise, they control the human being, making him angry—angry and bitter with life and the people around him.

These feelings have the power of destruction. They are capable of developing psychosomatic illnesses that we can not even imagine. Heart problems, ulcer, depression, nodules and even tumors. These are physical illnesses, which can be caused by the difficulty of forgiving. It is as if the person imploded, that is, exploded into him/herself, for not being able to release the forgiveness.

Ask for and grant forgiveness

It is so interesting that we can speak of the need to ask for forgiveness and also the need to give forgiveness. Often we have difficulty receiving forgiveness. The person humbles himself, repents of what he has done, asks for forgiveness, but the other, so trapped in his emotions, bitterness, wounds and hurt, cannot forgive. This is also destructive, because the issue is not being able to overcome the feeling produced. If I hurt the other and can make the move to ask for forgiveness, I may be overcoming my harmful feelings. So it is with him who is able to forgive those who ask him.

Whatever destroys us are the feelings of hurt and resentment, not the acts of forgiving. And forgiving is our remedy, it is the way of liberation, for sorrow and resentment are feelings so harmful that they have the capacity for destruction, paralysis and regression. Let’s take the following path:

– Recognition: look at your feelings and recognize that you feel hurt, and this has paralyzed, sickened you;
– Decision: in the face of my paralysis and illness, I decide to leave this place;
– Action: take the initiative to ask for or receive forgiveness.

There is no way to live these three steps at the same time. However, one must strive to win one at a time by looking at the current situation and focusing on the place you want to reach, the release of the feelings that chafe and fall ill.

Why is it so important to forgive?

Forgiveness has the power of deliverance. It makes us leave ourselves, our pride, vanity and self-sufficiency; leads us to a path that makes us recognize that we are imperfect and human, but that we can always start over. Are you willing to ask for and give forgiveness, or are you going to cultivate feelings that can bring death? The choice will always be ours, for to forgive is to have the ability to free yourself from your worst feeling!