The Art of Forgiveness

[MajestyJo]

The Stepping Stones to Forgiveness
Be open to the possibility of changing your beliefs
about forgiveness. Recognize that forgiveness is an
act of strength, not weakness.

Be willing to let go of being a victim. Choose to
believe that holding on to grievances and unforgiving
thoughts is choosing to suffer. Find no value in self-pity.

Remind yourself that your anger and judgments
can’t change the past or punish someone else, but
they can hurt you. The events of the past cannot hurt
you now, but your thoughts about the past can cause
you immense distress and pain. Recognize that any
emotional pain you feel this moment is caused only
by your own thoughts.

See the value of giving up, not some, but all of your
judgments. It is no coincidence that the happiest people
are those who choose not to judge and know the value
of forgiveness.

Recognize that holding on to anger will not bring you
what your truly want. Ask yourself this question, " Does
holding on to my justified anger really bring me peace
of mind?" Anger and peace; judgment and happiness
do not occur at the same time.

See that there is no value in punishing yourself.
Once you truly recognize that your angry, unhappy
thoughts about the past are poisoning your life, you
will embrace forgiveness and know the meaning of
love.

Believe that forgiveness means giving up all hope
for a better past! Accept your past, forgive your past,
and embrace the present and future with hope! There
is no law forcing you to remain a victim of the past.

Choose to be happy rather than right. When we
stop trying to control others and focus instead on our
own thoughts, we give ourselves the gift of freedom
and peace.

Believe that you have the power to choose the
thoughts you put into your mind. Perhaps the greatest
gift we have been given is the power to choose loving
thoughts rather than angry ones. Your mind is not a
dumpster that will remain unaffected by the trash you
put into it. Treat it like a garden and it will blossom.

Be willing to make peace of mind your only goal
and believe that forgiveness is the key to happiness.
Regardless of the chaos around us, we can know peace
if that is our single goal. Choose not to let outside
circumstances or people decide whether you will be
happy. Anger, judgments and unforgiving thoughts
make suffer, and releasing them brings us joy. It truly
is that simple!