Forgiving somebody can be one of the most challenging things that you will ever do. However, it is also necessary if you want to move forward in life. Holding onto grudges and resentment will only hurt you, not the person you are angry at for doing something against you. This blog post will discuss the benefits of forgiveness and how to go about forgiving someone.

Learn to forgive somebody

Forgiveness is the act of forgiving. To forgive someone means to let go of feelings of resentment towards somebody. It could be anybody who did something wrong to you, whether a friend, family or coworker. It's normal to feel angry when somebody does something to offend you. However, holding on to your anger and resentment towards somebody can bring more harm to you. When you don't forgive and let your bottled-up feelings accumulate for a long time, you won't gain inner peace, making you hold grudges or commit acts of vengeance toward your aggressor. When you let anger and bitterness overtake your life, it can lead to mental health problems like anxiety and depression. You also lose out on forming positive relationships with people and feel more stress in your life due to not being able to be happy and feel positive.

Not forgiving somebody can affect your mental and physical health. It's better to practice forgiveness for your own sake. It can be challenging to do it, especially if the one who wronged you is somebody you know well and trust. Remember that an act of forgiveness benefits you more than the person who did something wrong to you. Forgiving means moving on from the past and striving more towards a future where happiness awaits. You don't necessarily need to forget the wrongful act done to you, and you may not even reconcile with your offender. Forgiveness means shifting your emotional state so you don't get stuck in the quagmire of dark feelings and position yourself in a better spot to move forward in your life. Forgiveness is a conscious decision that you need to make, and there are steps on how one can go about it.

• Recognize that you have negative feelings swirling in your mind, such as anger and resentment. Observe if your emotions affect you, such as feeling more stress or a heavy feeling in your chest. When you realize that such things exist, you acknowledge that there is something you must resolve deep within yourself.
• Try to figure out what you can do to make yourself better. First, see if you still have the ability to reconcile with the person who wronged you. Being on good terms again with the offending person is still the best option if you can do it. Otherwise, you can gradually shift your emotional state to a more positive one. You can release your pent-up feelings by talking to somebody close to you, or maybe you can try counseling if your emotions are getting in the way of your life too much.
• To grant forgiveness to somebody, it can take time for wounds to heal before you can even try doing it, especially if somebody did something serious that hurt you emotionally or even physically. Distance yourself from the person who wronged you if you can, especially if you start to feel agitated whenever you see the person around you. Try to move away from anything that will remind you of the offending person, and let time heal your wound as you gradually move on from your past grievance.
• While undergoing a healing process, you can focus more on things that bring you positive energy and make you feel happy. For example, spend time with your other friends who support you or do your hobbies and passions. In addition, do some meditation or stress-management exercises to help you feel better. These things aim to put you in a better position to forgive. It's challenging to forgive someone when your head is full of negativity and heavy feelings.
• Once you feel better and more positive, it's time to perform an act of forgiveness. For example, you can try approaching the person who wronged you and saying that you forgive them. If facing the person is not an option, you can also try to forgive internally. Remember that forgiving is all about you. Sometimes, it happens naturally, like a supernatural force that tells you to forgive the person already. Also, when the person decides to approach you and says sorry for what they have done, this is the moment when you can choose to forgive the person. It will be easier to forgive the person if you let compassion and empathy rule your mind instead of resentment and vengeance.

Practice forgiveness and move forward in your life.

Forgiveness is an act that takes real courage to perform. It's easier to hold grudges when somebody has hurt us in the past. Also, some people continue to torment us in our present lives by committing acts that hurt us and make us hate them. It isn't easy to forgive such people, especially when it's someone you thought of as a friend and can be trusted. Not forgiving somebody doesn't affect the aggressor, and you can't control other people's behaviors and actions. It's better to focus on yourself and do things to improve your mental health and move forward in life. There are various benefits to forgiving someone, so one should do their best to learn it. Forgiveness is all about moving on. You don't necessarily forget the wrongful act done to you, nor will it change the other person's perspective. It's difficult to live every day when there's always pain and sadness within you, and forgiveness helps you overcome it and become better with your life.