The past can be detrimental to your body. We carry around old hurts
and grudges without realizing how harmful they are to us. The anger
we nurse along from some past event is not just a mental memory. A number
of medical studies have shown that carrying anger around has harmful
effects on our heart, our blood pressure, our immune system, our endocrine
organs.
Forgiveness,
letting go, is the cure. Forgiveness is about healing. It is not about
condoning some harmful behavior or even about continuing a relationship
with the person who harmed you.
Forgiveness
is about no longer allowing yourself to be hurt by the past. No matter
how hurtful or painful that past event was, it is just that, past. It
is gone. The only place that event exists is in your mind. You are the
only one who can say, "I will no longer be hurt by that experience."
Forgiveness
also includes forgiving yourself. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy
because we don't forgive ourselves for the mistakes we have made. If
you need to apologize or make amends for some past action, then do what
you know needs to be done. But also stop punishing yourself for your
humanness.
Without
forgiveness, you separate yourself from life, from spirit, from love.
The gift you receive from forgiveness is peace of mind.
"Don't let villians live rent free in your mind." Doc Childre