As a mental health therapist, the topic of resentment and forgiveness comes up often during client sessions.  It can be related to feelings of anger, depression, and anxiety. 

Spring is the time of the year that speaks of new beginnings: new growth, new love, washing away of the old and the bringing in of the new.  

Perhaps it's a good time to consider any hurts or injustices that you are bothered by or you are still holding onto?

We hear the word 'forgiveness' all the time.  Let's separate what forgiveness is not and what forgiveness is:

Forgiveness is NOT: 

1. Justice; seeking payment for wrongdoing
2. Denial or minimization of the extent of the wrong or pain inflicted
3. Permission for the wrong or abuse to be continued
4. Reconciliation; it takes 2 changed hearts and lives to reconcile
5. Amnesia; forgiveness is not forgetting.  The power is that we choose to forgive even as we remember

Forgiveness IS :

1. Choosing to let go of anger, bitterness, entitlement to punish
2. Releasing the offender from his debt to you
3. Releasing yourself to start over
4. Deciding not to punish yourself for the wrong doing toward another
5. A decision and a process

Forgiveness is letting others off the hook and to stop demanding repayment for a past wrong. 

Have you been trying to forgive and don't know how?  Look for an upcoming edition of The Pulse for further helpful hints.  

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