| "Webster's Dictionary" defines forgiveness as "ceasing | | | | Spiritual psychotherapy, which uses psychological |
| to feel resentment against someone who has | | | | insight to help us develop spiritual awareness, often |
| offended us in some way." How do we cease to feel | | | | defines forgiveness as a means to recognize the |
| resentment towards someone we feel has harmed us | | | | essential truth within all of us -- that beyond our |
| -- especially if that person in no way acknowledges | | | | personalities lies a spiritual light which is pure Love. As |
| any wrong doing? And why would we want to? | | | | we take stock of our shortcomings and imbalances, |
| There are many valuable reasons to forgive -- even if | | | | we clear the way for this inner light to spread through |
| we're in situation that seems unjust. The most obvious | | | | us, shining ever more brightly. |
| is that, if we stubbornly hold on to resentment, it will | | | | As this happens, we develop a feeling of great |
| eventually boil over -- causing ulcers, headaches, acid | | | | tolerance and understanding towards others-and |
| reflux, skin rashes and many other unpleasant | | | | ourselves, as well. This deep understanding of human |
| symptoms. | | | | nature, and all the ways in which we lash out at each |
| Even worse, violence can erupt (and often does) from | | | | other, the way we undermine ourselves, the way we |
| anger that has been building within us for too long. | | | | live fear-based, self-protective lives rather than |
| Violence does not have to be physical; it can also be | | | | faith-based, Self-serving lives, naturally leads to true |
| emotional, delivered with hurtful words and a punishing, | | | | forgiveness. |
| malicious attitude. | | | | Forgiveness is a by-product of being open-hearted |
| While there may be a concern that forgiveness sends | | | | and understanding. And the result is a deep, |
| a message that bad behavior is acceptable, or that | | | | nonjudgmental, inner peace and sense of freedom that |
| forgiveness somehow enables bad behavior, ceasing | | | | feels incomparably better than a big attachment to |
| to resent someone does not mean that we tolerate | | | | being right. |
| unacceptable actions. | | | | |