Held Back From Forgiveness
Human, Flawed, Forgiven is a thought-provoking exploration of the power and necessity of forgiveness in our lives. It gives readers practical advice on how to practice forgiveness in their own lives. What inspired you to write this book?
What inspired me to write the book was my own experience with forgiveness, combined with seeing others in my life who were still held back by their resentment of their parents. “Power follows the blame finger,” and it was difficult to see my friends and colleagues perpetually give up theirs by holding on to such deep resentment.
What is a common misconception people have about forgiveness and its importance?
The most common misconception people have about forgiveness is that it involves interacting with the forgiven party. There is absolutely no requirement for them to even be aware that you’ve forgiven them. From there, you can decide whether it’s worth attempting to reconcile. This is important because a lot of people are held back from forgiveness by the belief that it requires something from the other person, and then blame their bitterness on them for not providing it.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The most important ideas were the ones about uncovering what past experiences shaped the way you react to situations now. Once you understand where your own behaviors came from, you can fully process your past, and manage current situations in a more enlightened way.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from Human, Flawed, Forgiven?
That forgiveness doesn’t mean you’re weak or letting someone get away with something. On the contrary, it means you’re strong enough to understand what you control, what you don’t, and that you have the power to choose how you interact with the world.
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This poison can cause a host of health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. It can leave its victim in a constant state of fight-or-flight with chronic feelings of anger, stress, and bitterness. If that weren’t enough, it can even exacerbate conditions like diabetes and depression.
This poison is known as resentment.
Eighty-five percent of adults carry emotional baggage directly linked to their childhood experiences with their parents. This startling statistic shows that our journeys toward self-actualization are often littered with obstacles that were placed along our paths long before we had the words to name them.
Fortunately, these obstacles can be overcome through deep and genuine forgiveness. The act of forgiving our parents is not an act of mercy, but a lifeline thrown to our own souls; a solitary decision that does not require their knowledge nor participation. It provides an opportunity for the release of the burdens we have carried for far too long, and the reclamation of our own narratives.
The weightlessness of a life free of resentment is already within your reach—all you have to do is claim it.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/06/15/held-back-from-forgiveness/
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