Mindfulness and Forgiveness

Have you ever heard the quote that says, "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and then expecting the other person to die"?

Isn't it so true that unforgiveness affects us much more than it affects the person who offended us? The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32 that we should get rid of all unforgiveness and forgive others just as Christ forgave us of our sins.

The reality is this: Forgiveness is tough, especially when you've been hurt by someone you care about.

However, the reality is also this: Unforgiveness hurts you more than it hurts the person who offended you.

Forgiveness is a process, and forgiveness is a choice. Sometimes, it takes a couple of times to forgive someone completely. Sometimes, it takes daily, moment-by-moment decisions to forgive. This is why mindfulness plays a significant role in the process of forgiveness. Mindfulness allows you to sit and think about the situation. It also allows you to choose to forgive so you can improve your mental health.

The bottom line: The whole situation and offense shouldn't have happened in the first place, so forgiveness is choosing to remove yourself from that situation. 

Try thinking about any areas where you have unforgiveness, and choose to forgive today. You will be happy you did!