Forgive and Find Peace

“The moment you say to yourself, “It is time to let go; it is time to forgive.” that will be the moment you will find peace.” ~unknown

The holiday season is over, and the new year is upon us. For many, that is a relief because although the holidays are meant to be a time for love, hope, peace, joy and togetherness, that’s not the case for everyone. Especially if you’ve spent a holiday with someone difficult who’s hurt you and left your heart clouded by pain or has you feeling angry from a disagreement. But the reality is, if you want to find your peace again, you’ve got to let go and forgive – not for the other person, but for you.

The beginning of the year is a great time to let go of things you no longer feel you need to carry. So as we welcome the new year, why not start it with a clean slate and a peaceful heart?

Take some quiet time this week and search your heart for any past pain or anger towards someone (even if that someone is yourself) that you might be hanging on to. Then follow the three steps below to help you find peace through forgiveness.

1. Realize that forgiveness is for you. It's not about the other person. No matter what they've done, finding a way to forgive them is for you, so that you can have peace. It doesn't mean that what they did was okay or that it's okay for them to keep doing it. But it is about knowing that it is an empowered act for you.
2. Have empathy and understanding. If you can, find a way to have empathy and understanding for a person by taking a step back and realizing that their actions are really about them and what's going on with them. Then if you can find empathy and understanding in their actions, even though they may have wronged you, it is easier to forgive.
3. Know that forgiveness is a conscious choice. It has to be a conscious choice on your part for you to really think and know that you are ready to forgive. And that you are willing to forgive because you've already worked through the first two steps. (You know it's for you and you can have empathy and understanding for that person.) Then you can let it go and make a conscious choice to forgive. When you do that - you let go and you forgive - you will find peace.

I can’t encourage you enough to choose forgiveness now, rather than carrying all that hurt and anger into the new year. Not necessarily because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace of mind. Let the ending of the year be an opportunity to end that anger and pain by clearing the slate so you can roll into the new year with peace in your heart. Let go, forgive and find peace.

Today marks the beginning of a brand new year and a brand new opportunity to become the best most Heroic version of yourself. Check out the link here to join Heroic Elite and become the hero of your own story!