BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Spirituality Benefits of Forgiveness - Article

Learning to forgive and to show compassion can have many benefits not just for the one who is forgiven, but for the one who forgives.

Benefits of Forgiveness

Please read my latest article on the Spirituality site. I welcome your feedback!

I have the hardest time forgiving myself. I don't hold anyone up to the standard I set for me, and forgive others readily.

Me, I can't seem to. Help.

Jilly.....I believe forgiving yourself has to do with self-love and self-acceptance.

You can see the good in others and accept them for their flaws and unique differences. Try to do that with yourself. You deserve to be accepted for who you are with all of your distinct qualities, and you deserve to be forgiven when you make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. It is ok when sometimes you do something you are not proud of. Forgive yourself, learn something from it, and then move on.

You are a great person, Jilly. Know that.

Thank you for a very nice article! And what an important topic. I, like Jilly, struggle with forgiving myself. Once, someone told me that this was one of my important life lessons.

One night, I had a dream in which I saw myself asleep on the sofa. From this third person viewpoint, I gazed at this person, flawed but earnest, and was overcome with compassion for her. I only wanted to embrace her and offer her love and encouragement! She was trying so hard to get things right. But she was unaware that her built-in shortcomings were intended to provide valuable lessons for her. Humility. Empathy. Strength. Faith. Forgiveness. But yet, she battled self-hatred over her perceived mistakes.

I saw the absurdity of it all. It was like a small child, yelling at himself for falling as he learned how to walk.

When I awoke, I was kinder to myself that day. It's an on-going effort.

It may take time, but keep working at it, Lori. You are a spiritual being having a human experience, and human beings are flawed. We all will make mistakes, even if we do not intend to. Nobody is perfect. Be kind to yourself and you will see more happiness in your life. Once you can forgive yourself more readily you will find so much more peace within. Let go of the negativity and more positive energy will start to flow through you.

Thank you for reading my article. I am glad you liked it.

I have read your latest article Forgiveness. You have beautifully explained that article. I really like this that we must forgive others, if they are wrong because in turn they will forgive us when we are at fault. Nice article.

Thanks, Jennie.

Indeed. The most difficult person in the universe to forgive is yourself.

However, if you reason it out, you also are a part of life.

And if you have to courage to forgive other parts of life, then as you yourself are a part of life, then to be fair and honest, you have to forgive yourself also.

I know it's difficult... I'm 50 yrs. old and I have struggled with this even to today.

So, the heck with it.. as has been said, learn the lesson not to repeat it move forward.

This is so very difficult for me.

Many times I drive Connie crazy with the would'ves could'ves and should'ves.

But, I'm getting better as time goes by.

Jilly, it is much harder to forgive ourselves than it is to forgive others. The first thing one must do is learn to love their self. When you love someone, it is easier to forgive.

You have much within you that is good and lovable.

Debbie, this is a great article and a timeless one. Thank you for sharing these important thoughts with us.