Is Forgiveness the Ticket to Happiness?

“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” -- Reinhold Niebuhr

Have you ever thought of forgiveness as a healing tool? While it may not be as obvious as a healthy diet and regular workout, practicing regular forgiveness (of yourself and others) can be an immensely powerful means of sculpting a more empowered and happy life.

But you might be thinking (or even screaming) to yourself, what's so empowering about forgiveness? Why would anyone forgive their childhood bully, homophobic co-worker or relative, or cheating boyfriend? Isn't that just weakness, if not downright stupid?

No less an authority than renowned life coach and OWN's Fix Your Life star Iyanla Vanzant says forgiveness is NOT an open invitation to be a doormat.

“It doesn’t mean you tolerate bad behavior,” Iyanla says in a recent interview with Ebony. “Forgiveness isn’t for the other person. It is for you. It clears the energy of your heart and raises your vibration.”

In her book, Forgiveness: 21 Days to Forgive Everyone For Everything, Iyanla writes that "when you know how to forgive, you eliminate excess mental and emotional weight that keeps you stuck in repetitive situations, circumstances, and experiences that are not healthy or productive."

Translation: Any life patterns that include numerous dead end jobs, dysfunctional relatonships and self-destructive behavior might be just be related to non-forgiveness.

If you're feeling stuck or powerless or angry, pondering forgivness might be worth a few minutes of your time. Do you have someone to forgive (maybe that person you see in the mirror every day?), so you can live with more freedom, clarity and energy? Of course, there's no exact blueprint to this practice or experience, but using this Iyanla forgiveness mantras can be a good start: "I forgive. I am forgiven. I am forgiving. I am forgivable."

Do you consider forgiveness an essential part of mental and spiritual well-being? Leave your comments and discuss!

Comments

[Steve]

quote honestly i never thouht about this as a health issue...maybe it is!

[Gene]

I love this, am in some drama nad might eneed to try this frogivrness exercise...scary but makes sense

[Thomas]

wow, this never occured to me, its really for MY benefit to let go and stop suffering... thanks for this..

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This is news to me.

[Ahmed Ezat]

Forgive anyone no exceptions.

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Certainly, others will be generally affected, you could meet and collaborate with several individuals amid this day, however nobody else has to know this isn't the "genuine" you – that you're just faking it.

[Jayson]

Thanks for sharing.

[ndemi]

Forgiveness is good but not highway to hapiness.

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If you feel stuck or helpless or angry, thinking forgivness may be worth your minutes

[Denny]

That is really great!! Thanks so much for all your assistance. 

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what a great post

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Forgiveness removes certain burden in your mind. Forgive so that you can live free life