Forgiveness is right behind unconditional love as the greatest gift of all. Harboring the emotions and thoughts associated with negative events in your life leads to despair, grief and resentment. True forgiveness offers you a chance for peace of mind, improving your self image and improving your health and life overall.

When something happens that causes you hurt and you react by lashing out looking for revenge, you have hurt yourself a second time with out realizing it. That harboring of pain and unforgiveness festers in your psyche and you, little by little, give away your personal power and self control.

You must train yourself to recognize your internal signs of being in that unforgiving state. You may, after a hurtful incident like discovering your partner has been unfaithful, at first want to get even (revenge) then decide no matter what your partner says or does offer no forgiveness (let them suffer is what you think to yourself). This and other negative reactions are really a personal jail sentence for you locked up in the prison of sadness, anger resentment. No matter how much you want to move on from the hurt, you are stuck until you truly forgive the other person. Forgiveness is personal freedom and power.

The question is how do you release the hurt, pain and anger? Serenity and internal peace await you once you forgive and allow yourself to forget. This age old axiom is key to a happy, enlightened life. The act of forgiveness as a consistent personal practice begins to affect all aspects of your life. You will feel more vibrant, alive and actually be healthier.

When we are spitefully hurt or used, it can be extremely difficult to forgive as the instinct for self preservation kicks in. This is where the law of forgiveness requires practice. This practice requires patience and humility. Arrogance has no place in the forgiving soul. Practice, practice and more practice. Let go of the emotions associated with your hurt. This is the hardest step with the most rewards. Once you can say the hurt has gone, face your transgressor and tell them they are sincerely and forever forgiven. Walk away as a free powerful person.

Forgiveness is necessary for a happy life. Sue Norton is forgiveness personified. Her father was killed in his own home in Oklahoma with the killer getting $17.00 and an old truck. Sue was numb, hurt and confused. The capture of the killer brought no relief. During the trial she could not sleep, eat or function. The court room was filled with hate directed at the accused. Sue was expected to fill the same way but as she says, "it didn't feel good".

As the trail drew to a close she prayed for help. Her help came in a thought "You don't HAVE to hate him, you could forgive him." Sue gained permission to see the accused in his holding cell and she proceeded to forgive him. This act of compassion allowed Sue to move on from the hurt and make something good happen. She moved on to actually befriend the accused. Her act of forgiveness encouraged the accused to learn about forgiveness and become a devout Christian.

What is standing in your way? Who or what do you need to forgive and have the piece of mind you deserve?