Learning to Forgive

There are times when we are able to accept hurt, and then move on with our lives. However, there are times when this does not happen and we hold onto hurt and rejection. 

Sometimes we may get angry about our situation and allow that anger to take over and dominate our thoughts and then take it out on those around us, often hurting others in the process. 

Sometimes we may replay painful thoughts and memories, usually causing more hurt to ourselves resulting in a waste of time when we are trapped inside our mind, instead of living our life.

Today I am turning to the Feltzer Institute in Kalamazoo USA for some inspirational quotes on forgiveness.

Forgiveness is both a decision and a real change in emo­tional experience. That change in emotion is related to better physical and mental health.

—Everett Worthington

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

—Maya Angelou

A typical saying, repeated many times in Amish culture, is “Forgive, forget, and move on.” 

—Donald Kraybill, author of Amish Grace

Highly forgiving people have lower blood pressure just walking around in the world every day. Forgiving people seem to take better care of themselves. They are less likely to smoke, less likely to drive unsafely, and that has an impact on health.

— Kathleen Lawler Row in The Power of Forgiveness

We must develop and maintain the capac­ity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. 

—Martin Luther King, Jr.

Forgiveness requires us to traverse mental, emotional, ethical, and, for many, spiritual territory. It cannot stand apart from the need for justice, grieving, emotional healing, and, in some cases, reconcili­ation and restitution. And it does not and should not trivialize, condone, or absolve the wrongdoing. Whether it can help heal the pain, anger, hatred, and destruction left in its wake is, however, an important question to ponder.