Happiness is…forgiveness

Happiness is…forgiveness

There are times in all of our lives when we feel we’ve been wronged; these are, at times, large events and these are, at times, minor indescretions. Either way, if we’re to find happiness in our lives we need to learn how to manage these and today I’m happy to share with you a nice, short article from the always wise Lou Tice…

Winner’s Circle Network with Lou Tice – 6/2/10 – “The Value of Forgiveness”

Many people throughout the ages have spoken of the virtues of forgiveness. Today, I want to add my voice to theirs, and perhaps a special twist.

Against whom are you carrying a grudge? Is there someone who has done you a wrong, in some way, and whom you just can’t forgive? Have you, yourself, done things that you can’t forgive? Today I hope to impress upon you the incredible damage you can do to yourself, if you don’t let go of these hurts. You must learn to forgive and forget.

Confucius said that, “To be wronged is nothing unless you remember it.” He was absolutely right, and here’s why. Every time you remember something bad that happens to you, some wrong that was done to you, you feel those bad feelings all over again. You record the event in the neuron structure of your brain, and it plants itself in your subconscious.

Now your subconscious doesn’t know the difference between a vividly imagined or remembered event and the real thing. It is all “real” to your subconscious. When you subject yourself over and over again to painful, angry memories, eventually your system begins to break down. The poison of the not forgiven hurt and anger attacks you from the inside out.

12-step programs emphasize the importance of forgiveness, because they recognize that forgiveness is the key to action and freedom. Jesus forgave those who crucified him while he was still on the cross. When you forgive, you open yourself to wonderful new possibilities. Why not begin today? I know you can.

Lou Tice – www.thepacificinstitute.com

Want more happiness in your life? Learn to forgive (if not, forget)!