The Power of Forgiveness can be a Lifechanger!

🕒 Last Updated on September 7, 2023

Learn the power of forgiveness and become a happier person

Learn the power of forgiveness and become a happier person.  More than likely, we all have had someone who has wronged us in the past and caused much pain and anguish.  It’s hard to just simply forgive and forget.  In fact, I don’t think anyone forgets, especially if the incident was quite emotionally painful.  

In this article, Made You Smile Back will show you the true power of forgiveness and provide you with ways to learn to move on and bring back joy and happiness into your life.  We will explore what is forgiveness and why it is so important to come to terms with it and the best methods of handling it.

Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you shall be in a position to not only effectively forgive someone (and perhaps even yourself), but also see that it truly can be a lifechanger!  And you will be rewarded with many blessings in return!

“To Err is Human, To Forgive Is DIVINE”

Alexander Pope wrote those wise words.  In the poem An Essay on Criticism, Part II , 1711, Pope explains that, while anyone can make a mistake, we should aspire to do as God does, that is, show mercy and forgive sinners. 

So what is forgiveness exactly and why is it so important?  Forgiveness itself is actually the result of one forgiving another.  More specifically forgiveness is a mental and/or spiritual process of acknowledging and ‘letting go’ of past sins committed against us.  

Forgiveness is a ‘choice’ to let go of hanging on to grudges or bitterness and in the process, dealing with the ‘hurt’  in a positive way.  We can never truly forgive, unless we learn to forgive our own self and use the power of ‘love’ when forgiving.

Forgiveness is for our own happiness and personal growth.  The importance of the act of forgiving means you value yourself and well-being first and foremost.  Read this next quote and you will see the power that forgiveness has for you!

Can You Really Forgive and Forget?

So you see, when you are forgiving, the power belongs to ‘you’!  Forgiveness frees us to live in the present.  But let’s talk about forgiving and forgetting.   Can one really, honestly do that?

While it sounds good in ‘theory’, the reality is one shouldn’t have to forget.  Forgiving someone is not giving them a pardon for the wrong or hurt they caused.  Forgiving is the ability to allow ‘ourselves’ to no longer be stuck and move on with our lives.

Sure, in time, memories will dull and the pain and hurt does indeed slowly heal.  So I applaud those who can actually forget but I want to point out 4 reasons why I believe we shouldn’t have to forget.  

Four Reasons Why Sometimes It’s Okay Not To Forget when Forgiving Someone

1. Forgiveness allows us to learn from past experiences.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned. We need to be mindful of the lesson, and learn to move on and forward. This may mean putting distance between the person who hurt us.
2.  Forgiveness protects our emotional health and well-being.  I don’t know about you, but for me, it simply just takes ‘too much energy’ to sustain being angry or upset at someone.  Forgiveness replaces this negative energy into positivity and brings us back to happiness and joy.
3. Believe it or not, but forgiveness can also end up strengthening our relationships.  All relationships can be restored, not in spite of what happened in the past but because of it. The act of forgiving can strengthen people’s commitment to a healthy relationship if both are committed to doing so. 
4. By not forgetting, we protect ourselves from being a victim of the same offense again. It’s important to remember what happened to us in order to avoid letting it happen again. 

Hear What Nelson Mandela Has To Say About Forgiveness

Everyone’s knows that the word ‘forgiveness’ is synonymous to Nelson Mandela and how he lived his life.  He will be remembered to have lived and died, loving and forgiving.

In 1969, while Mandela was in prison, he wrote “The threat of death evoked no desire in me to play the role of martyr.’

His famous quote,  “Forgiveness liberates the soul, it removes fear,”  is such a powerful weapon.  It is this forgiveness towards his nation’s wrongdoers that he used as a weapon against the oppressive apartheid regime.  His forgiveness of his enemies was truly lifechanging.  This enabled the transformation of relationships, positive change and peace in his beloved country, South Africa.

And while we may never rise to the level of the Honorable Mandela, we all can learn proper, healthy steps to forgiveness.

Steps to True Forgiveness

• First and foremost, give yourself the needed time to cool off and reflect on everything that transpired.  And there’s no shame in letting it out… cry, scream, vent… whatever you need to do.
• As hard as it may seem, learn to accept the person’s apology.  It takes courage to admit when one is wrong.  And by acceptance, you’re closer to forgiveness and ultimately being happy again.

• Now’s not the time to be timid. Let the person know exactly how you feel.
• Show compassion.  Think of all the good things that this person or friend did for you in the past.

• Reflect – did you ever wronged that person yourself in the past?  Do you need to make amends yourself?
• Consider the grand scheme of things–is there a lesson to be learned?
• If this relationship is meaningful to you, try to rebuild trust.

The Most Powerful Emotion of Them All in Forgiveness – LOVE

If you want to experience good health, happiness and joy in a balanced life, you have to make use of the power of forgiveness!  And just as important, if one can also have unconditional love in the act of forgiveness, this truly will be a life changer.  

Forgiveness and unconditional love are art that takes time to learn.  But when you learn how, the true Power of Forgiveness takes on a divine elevation and can and is a life changer.  

In Conclusion – Are You Ready to Forgive?

I would be in total amiss if I didn’t include what I feel is a very important component of the “Power of Forgiveness”.  In fact, I would be willing to go on the record and state that 99% of those reading this blog are invested spiritually with your own individual faith and beliefs.

The concept of forgiveness might differ, but it still calls for love and a pure heart.   For in my mind, the ultimate ‘divine power of forgiveness’ is provided to us in the unconditional love of God/Allah, etc. with the act of praying or meditating daily.  And when you do this, forgiveness truly becomes lifechanging.  Blessings to all!

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For Further Reading, Check Out These Blog Postings:

“How to Get Happy Again:  7 Habits of Happy and Joyful People”

“The True Value of Friendship & Happiness”

“Just How Happy Are You Really?”

“Beyond Sadness, Helping Your Friends Smile Again”

“Master the Art of Gratitude With These 15 Tips”