By: Muzamil Bashir
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- Martin Luther King.
Well, we all make mistakes in life, do wrong things, take bad decisions and regret them. But cursing yourself over and again for something that happened in the past is like giving one chance every day for not being happy. Life is too short to hate or be angry at people. So forgive often, be kind and love from the core of your heart. There can be no better revenge then forgiveness.
By forgiving people you prioritize love over hate, peace over violence, calm over anger and contentment over rancor. You begin to tread on the path of self-care and allow yourself to perceive things calmly with kind heart. If you keep on holding grudges and resentment against the people who have hurt you then you are bound to end up in hurting your own self. There is suffering in the world but there is also healing and the healing is possible only when you forgive. Holding on to the resentments and anger only poisons your heart. It eats away the soul and conscience. By keeping a forgiving attitude you take the path of self-love and continue to do good even though other people are not enough good to you.
Forgiveness doesn’t always happen overnight. It is a gradual process, a commitment to change for the better. It takes practice, time and determination to pursue the wisdom of forgiveness. When life hits you hard, there is nothing as effective as forgiveness. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals. It boosts your self-worth and inner strength. One really needs enough audacity to let go of the past harm.
The understanding of forgiveness may also not sound so easy. It can be very difficult at times to forgive because the degree of pain runs high. But if all the hurt costs you your mental peace, let it go for your own benefit. Let forgiveness flow for your healing. Let it liberate you from all the toxic feelings and give you a greater sense of happiness, compassion and empathy. In a painful situation it’s the only valuable reward you can present to yourself.
So, when you finally embrace the power of forgiveness you set yourself free from the chains of intolerance and anger. You begin a journey where you make peace with life and forgive others and yourself for the past, prepare for the future and in the meantime enjoy the precious present moment.