How to Forgive the Unforgivable

People hurt one another all the time. But what happens when you experience a hurt that cuts you so deeply that you can see no way to ever forgive that person? Use these steps to reclaim your life.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Determination
• A willingness to overcome the hurt of injustice

1. 
   Hang up the gloves, decide to forgive.

   Make the decision to forgive. This may sound ridiculous. After all, if you are here reading this, you are looking for a way to forgive. But the decision is not a surface decision, it goes deeper. You must really want to forgive that person from your heart and soul. So make the commitment to really forgive.

2. 
   Perfection may exist in nature, but not within the human heart.

   Realize that none of us is perfect. We are all made up of strengths and weaknesses. Learn to accept your own weaknesses, and you will begin to empathize with others’ weaknesses. Seeing someone as like yourself helps facilitate the process of forgiveness.

3. 
   Ruminating on the wrongs commited against you only hurts you.

   Make a commitment to stop thinking how that person has wronged you. When you ruminate incessantly on something someone has done to you that has hurt you, you only increase the pain you feel. You can even create more pain than you originally felt. Leave the past to the past. Learn to live in the present moment.

4. 
   Give thanks for the good in your life.

   Remind yourself daily of the blessings you have in your life. Find gratitude in life. Love and thankfulness have power that hate and vengeance cannot compete with.

5. 
   Persistence leads to victory.

   Renew your resolve to conquer the hurt. Print this “how to” out and place it on your refrigerator or bedroom door. Look at it when necessary until you have forgiven.
   
   Forgiveness can free you from the hurt of what feels like an unforgivable act. Take heart, you can forgive any injustice, and begin to heal the wound.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't confuse forgiveness with allowing someone to abuse you. Never stay in an abusive or harmful relationship.

Resources

• More on forgiveness and inner peace

[imabrat]

on 9/27/2009 I actually just wrote a very similar article that i now realize isn't worth the publish! Great minds think alike! You worded it much better than I - good job!