Seven powerful sayings to help you understand why it benefits you to forgive someone

What Is Forgiveness?

In the realm of psychology, forgiveness is widely understood as a conscious and intentional decision to release feelings of bitterness, anger, or vengeance towards individuals who have caused harm, irrespective of whether they truly deserve forgiveness. It involves liberating oneself from the burden of resentment, enabling a path towards emotional healing and growth.

Forgiveness, according to psychologists, is a transformative process that necessitates letting go of the pain inflicted by others’ actions. By making a deliberate choice to forgive, individuals can attain the inner peace and serenity they richly deserve.

Embracing forgiveness allows one to free themselves from the shackles of past grievances, paving the way for personal growth, emotional well-being, and ultimately, a more fulfilling life journey.

You would of course immediately say: “Easier said than done!” 

And we won’t say you’re wrong, because it takes to time heal and much more to forgive someone. No one can force you to forgive, there will come a time when you will realize that your happiness is much more important than keeping a space in your mind for people who have caused you pain.

Here are seven powerful sayings that will help put into perspective why forgiveness is a gift you can give to yourself.

1. Forgive those who insult you, attack you, belittle you or take for granted. But more than this… forgive yourself for allowing them to hurt you. — Juno Cristi

2. When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. — Catherine Ponder

3. Forgiveness has nothing to do with absolving someone’s offense or betrayal. It has everything to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being a victim–letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor. ― C.R. Strahan

4. The wisdom of forgiving : It does not mean giving people the license to hurt you over and over again. It is simply an act of releasing the pain others may have caused and remembering never to let them take away your PEACE again. — Dodinsky

5. Forgiving isn’t something you do for someone else. It’s something you do for yourself. It’s saying, “You’re not important enough to have a stranglehold on me.” It’s saying, “You don’t get to trap me in the past. I am worthy of a future. I’m moving on to peace and happiness.” — Jodi Picoult

6. Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation. — Paulo Coelho

7. Because forgiveness is like this: a room can be dank because you have closed the windows, you’ve closed the curtains. But the sun is shining outside, and the air is fresh outside. In order to get that fresh air, you have to get up and open the window and draw the curtains apart. — Desmond Tutu

The power of letting go, even in the absence of an apology, empowers individuals to find inner peace, release the burden of resentment, and ultimately experience the liberating benefits of forgiveness. By heeding these seven powerful sayings, we learn that forgiveness is not only an act of kindness towards others but also a gift we give ourselves, fostering a more compassionate and fulfilling life.

Let forgiveness be a beacon of light guiding us towards greater understanding, empathy, and resilience in our relationships and our own well-being.