Another reader asks about How to Forgive

A reader asks: I am writing to you for guidance as I find it very difficult to forgive someone who hurt me. It is becoming harder for me to live or to face that person. Please help me.

Forgiveness is for you, so you can stop hurting - rather than for the other.
You don't have to forgive someone to their face - just in your own heart.

Also, to the extent practical, avoid the person who has hurt you if you believe they are likely to hurt you again. While you must forgive (for your own well-being), you shouldn't allow anyone to hurt you further.

Here are some articles that may help...

• Forgive and Forget? Can You Really Lift Your Burden of Resentments?
• How to Forgive and Move On
• Regrets, Resentments and the Path to Forgiveness
• Forgiveness is Essential to a Great Relationship
• Practical Forgiveness by Sheri Rosenthal

Forgiveness is really a gift to yourself -
have the compassion to forgive others,
and the courage to forgive yourself.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

Forgiveness is an act of self-love and respect.
- don Miguel Ruiz

Forgiveness ... is the finishing of old business
that allows us to experience the present,
free of contamination from the past.
- Joan Borysenko

The key to forgiveness is to forgive from the heart -
not from the mind.
- Sheri Rosenthal

When we hate our enemies, we are
giving them power over us:
power over our sleep, our appetites,
our blood pressure, our health, and our happiness.
Our enemies would dance with joy if only
they knew how they were worrying us,
lacerating us, and getting even with us!
Our hate is not hurting them at all,
but our hate is turning our own days
and nights into a hellish turmoil.
- Dale Carnegie

Forgive those who have injured you -
not because they deserve your forgiveness,
but because you can never be happy
until you release your anger and grant forgiveness.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie


May the world be kind to you, and may your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie