Global Forgiveness Day is observed on July 7th. It’s a day dedicated to promoting the act of forgiveness, both towards others and oneself, and recognizing its positive impact on mental and emotional well-being. To forgive and be forgiven is a chance we take in life to set things right. The day serves as an annual reminder that peace often begins with small personal acts of forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t a weakness, it’s a proactive choice to reclaim one’s emotional needs.
It is said that “Forgiveness offers the possibility of two types of peace: peace of mind — the potential healing of old emotional wounds, and peace with others — the possibility of new, more gratifying relationships in the future.” Forgiveness is the key. It allows us to lay down the right to claim retribution (openly or inwardly in our hearts and minds). Forgiving allows us to deal with, and then look past all the hurt and consequences of the offense. Forgiving pardons the offender and the offense. This does not mean to forget, in fact, we must remember as a way to remind ourselves that we too might be guilty of the same offense. Many people think of forgiving as a reconstruction of a relationship with the person who did you wrong, but its understanding the situation and moving past it. I feel forgiving is important for us to continue with our daily life, it makes us healthier, even happier.
Usually when we hurt another person or ourselves it is unconscious, the act of forgiveness is always a conscious decision. The act of forgiveness allows unconscious actions to come into the light of awareness. Forgiving others does not fix their mistakes; we forgive them to release ourselves from the heavy burden of holding grudges and carrying bitterness in our heart. It accomplishes something even greater than that, it allows us each the space to let go of past mistakes while helping to cultivate a deeper sense of compassion for ourselves (and others). Forgiveness is for the strong, it shows how much strength you have, and how you managed to pull through a hard time.
Holding a grudge always makes us feel bitterness and hatred when you can leave that behind and move on, your life will change and you will see everything differently. In the word of Jonathan Human “Forgiveness is an inherent virtue of being human, a prerequisite for a healthy human society and a central component to every religion. To forgive is to liberate one’s self from the bondage of blame and recrimination. When we forgive, the trauma heals. Forgiveness transmutes poison into medicine. We lament the wars and conflicts across the globe yet what about the battles in our own lives and the battles inside each of us?
What we need is to release our negative emotions and forgive others. Understand others’ perspectives and cultivate compassion. Don’t we think that every time we forgive someone we learn a thing from not only that person but from ourselves too. This demonstrates that moving on will be good for the both of you, but mainly for yourself, showing yourself you’re strong enough. Sometimes when we are unwilling to forgive, it helps to remember that we, too, may someday require another person’s forgiveness. An attitude of forgiveness is a little easier to develop when we remember that we are all doing the very best we can. And someday we, too, will need forgiveness.
Forgiving others not only frees those we forgive; it frees us from the poison of resentment and anger.Let us rebuild and strengthen relationships through forgiveness.Forgiving is not only healthy but it makes us happier, and it takes a weight off our shoulders we hadn’t noticed was there.
(Written by Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit)
