Sometimes we confuse forgiveness with forgetting. Forgiveness is not about erasing the memories of your experience. it is the choice to release the shackles that past circumstances have on your present and future. It is an act of transformation, enabling us to free ourselves from the heavy burdens of resentment and bitterness.

Forgiveness is a conscious and deliberate decision to let go of the negative emotions associated with a particular event or individual. It is a process that requires courage, strength, and a willingness to embrace vulnerability. Forgiving does not mean condoning the actions of others or pretending that the harm inflicted was inconsequential. Instead, it is a radical act of self-love and self-preservation, acknowledging that holding onto anger and resentment only serves to poison our well-being.

Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. When we carry a grudge, we are allowing the past to dictate our future. Anger and bitterness are a chain that binds us to the pain and prevents us from moving effectively forward. When we choose to forgive, it is a conscious effort for liberation enabling us to break free from the emotional bondage that is keeping us tethered to the past. By choosing to forgive, we begin to reclaim control over our narrative, refusing to allow the actions of others to define our sense of self.

Forgiveness fosters healing. When we harbor anger and resentment, it has detrimental effects on our physical, emotional, and mental health. Studies indicate that chronic anger contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. When we forgive, we release the negative emotions that we are withholding and allow our bodies and minds to begin to heal. Over time, it provides a sense of peace and well-being.

Forgiveness is a gift that we give to ourselves. We are choosing to break a cycle of victimhood and take back our power. It is not about exonerating the wrongdoer; it is untangling ourselves from the clutches of the resulting resentment. By choosing to forgive, we are deciding to prioritize our mental and emotional health over our desire for revenge or retribution. Forgiveness is an act of self-empowerment that enables us to rise above our circumstances and emerge with greater strength and fortitude.

Forgiveness can also be a bridge to reconciliation. It may not always be possible or in our best interests to restore a relationship with the person who caused the pain, but it can open the door to greater inner peace and a possibility of rebuilding lost trust. To forgive, we must look beyond the actions that hurt us and recognize the humanity in ourselves and others.

Success or sabotage? Success, by any definition, requires forward movement. When we choose to forgive, we acknowledge and release our pain and release its hold on our lives.

Is this going to be an incredible day? When we embrace forgiveness, we free ourselves from resentment, allowing us to enjoy the day with all that it has to offer.