Forgiveness is the First Step in Healing

Quote: "Forgiveness is born of increased awareness. The more you can see, the easier it is to forgive." — Deepak Chopra (The Path of Love)

Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself and to those you love. It doesn’t mean you accept or condone the behavior of the person who has wronged you, nor does it mean you forget. If you continue to harbor bitterness and hatred in your mind and soul, you are giving the person who hurt you control over your emotions and reactions. Healing is impossible without forgiveness.

A powerful activity to try is praying for the person you want to forgive. The catch is not to ask God to help you forgive, which is a common approach. Instead, pray for this person as you would for a loved one. Pray that God extends His grace, favor, and blessings upon them. Do this daily for a month. Initially, you might struggle with the words, thinking, "I can’t ask God to bring the best for this person." However, with pure heart and intention, your perspective will change. You will feel the heaviness lift, your heart will soften, and the pain and hurt will begin to release.