But forgiveness, like so many things in life, is easier said than done.

The Challenge of Forgiveness

Forgiveness can be a challenge for several reasons.

Forgiveness can also be difficult when the person who wronged us doesnt seem to deserve our forgiveness.

father and son hugging

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It can feel like you are letting them “off the hook.”

Sometimes, its hard to remember that forgiveness benefits the forgiver more than the one who is forgiven.

Ultimately, forgiveness is especially challenging because its hard to let go of what happened.

The Importance of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is good for your heartliterally.

Determined, purposeful emotional forgiveness causes forgetting and is an important first step in the forgiveness cascade.

Thats reason enough to convince virtually anyone to do thework of letting goof anger and working on forgiveness.

First, keep in mind that forgiveness is something you do foryourselfto sever your emotional attachment to what happened.

That means really letting yourself be angry about what happened.

This can take time and can involve practices like journaling or talk therapy.

Are they truly a malicious person?

Or did they just mess up and have a major lapse in judgment?

Is it helping in your healing process?

If you answered no, forgiveness might be a good next step.

Forgiveness is for you, not the person who hurt you.

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