Day 3: Forgiveness Challenge

In case you missed the previous 2 announcements, we’re celebrating 12 Days of Christmas, Queen City Health Center-style! We’d like to challenge all of our patients, friends, and family members to commit to making one thoughtful health change for the next 12 days. We are confident you’ll notice a difference in the way you feel!

Day 3: Take a few minutes to exercise forgiveness toward someone who has wronged you.

Try writing a letter, speaking it out loud, or calling the person to ask for their forgiveness.

Humans are made up of three parts: mind, body, and spirit. Often times we ignore the importance of our spiritual health. This season is the perfect time to experience freedom in your mind and spirit and share that freedom with others.

Forgiveness is not an easy thing; in fact, it’s much easier said than done. Forgiving someone who has hurt you takes strength, patience, and practice. At some point in our lives, we all come to a crossroads where we need to decide if we should forgive the person who wronged us or to let them go.

Sometimes it’s not another person that we need to forgive. Instead, it’s ourselves that we need to forgive for the mistakes we’ve made. There is never a right or wrong answer, and it is a personal decision. If you choose to forgive, it may not have been the same choice that your friend or family member has made and that’s okay, because this is your life, not theirs. The most important thing you must know is that forgiveness is a CHOICE. When you choose to forgive, you have made a decision in your heart that you desire to break free from anger against another person.

If you’re not sure how to forgive, or where to start, here are tips and points of inspiration:

1.) Know that forgiveness doesn’t mean that you are validating that what hurt you is okay.

First of all, when you forgive, know that it does not mean that you are fine with what happened. Forgiveness is choosing to accept what happened and making a choice to move forward in your life. It is the first step toward self-healing.

2.) Let go of the past.

When you make a decision to forgive, you are making a commitment to let go of the past. It doesn’t mean that it will be forgotten; it means that you are cutting ties with it. No more bringing up the past to your significant other, your friend, or yourself who did you wrong. No more blaming, pointing fingers, or fighting. It is over with. Finité! What’s done is done. You can’t change the past, so why hold onto it? Self-healers choose to learn from the past and let it go.

3.) Choose love.

Start a clean slate with the person you are forgiving. If you feel bottled up resentment that is seconds away from spewing out of you, keep making steps daily toward releasing those feelings. Forgiveness can be a daily act or walk; it’s like weight training—at first you can’t lift the 50lbs, but you can lift 10lbs so start there. You may not be able to call and forgive someone on the phone, but out loud in this moment, you can say “I forgive so and so for xyz.” To forgive is to take those heavy bricks off your back and stop walking on eggshells. It requires moving forward knowing that you are being the bigger person and choosing love over hate.

4.) Find inner peace.

This step will probably be the most difficult. Even if you have chosen forgiveness and are willing to let go of the past, it is extremely hard to move forward in life as if everything is back to normal. You need to find inner peace. This can be done in many ways. My advice: Focus on yourself and bettering yourself as a person. Even though you weren’t at fault, focusing on yourself will create positive energy. Focusing your energy on yourself instead of hate is much more peaceful and gratifying.

Forgiveness is a choice. You are not a doormat for choosing to forgive. You are not an idiot for giving that person a second chance. You are strong and have a big heart, which is something to be extremely proud of. You were not at fault. You have chosen love over hate. You have the ability to experience freedom and healing today in this holiday season. Be bold and courageous!

If you missed yesterday’s challenge, you can grab it here!

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