How to Forgive to Heal Your Mind, Body & Heart
Forgiveness is key to your self care plan
A lack of forgiveness in your mind and heart will sabotage all of the self care you are trying to practice. You can workout, skip the toxic products, eat well, all the things but if you have toxic thoughts and feelings from a lack of forgiveness in your heart you will be unwell.
The opposite of forgiveness is bitterness.
it shows itself in wanting punishment or retribution for the person who has harmed you. Bitterness or lack of forgiveness looks like taking poison and wishing it harmed the other person.
Are you replaying the punishment you wish you could give someone?
Does anger swell up against the person who harmed you?
Replaying the conversation in your head?
Dreaming about it?
Lingering Disappointment
Obsessed and resentful?
The good news:
Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress.
“Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.”
Steps to forgive:
Write out the scenario of what happened.
Write a letter to the person who wronged you. (hint… you probably won’t send it!)
Confess your own sin. Admitting your own wrong doing to yourself will help you know whether you should apologize to the other party.
“In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feels like a decision to reward my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.” Andy Stanley
Pray for your heart to desire forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is another for freedom.” Byron Katie
Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free.
5. Decide on healthy boundaries with this person going forward. Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting and going back for more.
Forgivingess is not about forgetting what someone did to you. It’s about saying to God “I give them and the situation to You because I know you can handle it better than I can.” Dr Michelle Bengston
What about forgiving YOURSELF!?!?
How many things are you torturing yourself with?
Do you tell yourself,
“I did it again.”
“I didn’t keep up with it again.”
“I snapped at the kids again.”
“I will always be _______”
Ask forgiveness to others but also to God and yourself!
Repeat these affirming truths to remind yourself that you are forgiven!
I am forgiven.
I accept that I am human and I make mistakes.
Forgiveness is a gift that God offers with no strings attached.
Everyone makes mistakes.
My standing with God is not reliant on my perfection, but on His perfection.
Use Forgive essential oils in a diffuser, or rolled on your wrists and over your heart. Take a deep inhale of this woodsy aroma and repeat those affirming truths to yourself.
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