avatarLibby Shively McAvoy

Summary

The web content discusses the importance of forgiveness as a pathway to personal freedom and emotional healing.

Abstract

The article titled "Forgiveness is Your Ticket To Freedom" emphasizes the necessity of forgiveness to release oneself from the emotional shackles of pain, anger, and resentment. It suggests that holding onto negative feelings, such as guilt, shame, or grudges, can lead to physical and psychological issues, including insomnia, high blood pressure, and strained relationships. The author encourages self-reflection to identify areas needing forgiveness, which may involve childhood traumas, abusive relationships, or self-forgiveness. The process of forgiveness is described as complex and transformative, not to be confused with condoning harmful behavior or necessitating reconciliation. Forgiveness is presented as a means to regulate the nervous system, promote better sleep, and improve overall well-being, ultimately allowing individuals to move forward with grace and empowerment.

Opinions

  • The author believes that unforgiveness poisons the body and soul, leading to a range of physical and emotional symptoms.
  • Forgiveness is seen as a personal journey that can involve deep emotional work, possibly requiring support from a therapist or journaling.
  • It is implied that forgiveness is not about forgetting the harm done or reconciling with the offender, but about freeing oneself from the control of past hurts.
  • The article suggests that forgiveness can lead to a better understanding of oneself and others, fostering empathy and a connection with all beings.
  • The author posits that forgiveness is a choice that leads to happiness and protects against future manipulation and abuse.
  • Forgiveness is described as a powerful act that can transform an individual into a "peaceful warrior," no longer held back by a victim mindset.

Forgiveness is Your Ticket To Freedom

Remove the shackles of pain that hold you back from your natural state of joy.

Envato Elements Purchased Image License PKLY7TDSVF

How To Know If You Need To Forgive

You may be holding on to repressed feelings of shame or guilt, holding onto remorse or a grudge. Sometimes, these feelings are buried deep in our subconscious — especially if they are from childhood or a profoundly traumatic event. The problem is that these negative feelings you harbor, consciously or subconsciously, poison your body and soul until you finally release them through forgiveness. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you struggle with intimate relationships?
  • Do you self-sabotage?
  • Do you go from zero to one hundred when angered?
  • Do friends and family tell you you’re “angry” often
  • Do you feel frustrated often?
  • Do you experience road rage?
  • Do you have trouble sleeping or experience insomnia?

You probably need to forgive if you answered yes to more than one of these. Forgiveness might be a circumstance or a person; it may even be forgiving yourself, which is okay.

Forgiveness is a complicated process. I encourage you to take out a notebook or journal and think deeply about all the people and circumstances you must forgive from childhood through the current moment. These may be small moments or big ones.

Examples of Circumstances That Need Forgiving

  • Narcissistic parents
  • Neglectful parents
  • Abusive parents (sexually, verbally, physically)
  • Being Bullied in school
  • Forgiving yourself for being bulimic or anorexic
  • Forgiving yourself for being an overachiever
  • Forgiving yourself for being a people pleaser
  • Forgiving yourself for not standing up for the kid being bullied
  • Forgiving the narcissist who manipulated you as an adult
  • The toxic relationship
  • The physically, verbally, or psychologically abusive adult relationship

Behind The Veil Of The Person Who Hurt Us

The secret to healing is understanding that the person who hurt you had unhealed wounds, and they took out their pain on you. So, if you were bulimic or anorexic, that is how you coped with the pain you were holding inside — you were punishing yourself. Someone narcissistic- forget the label and see the hurt child within. I am not justifying their behavior, but instead explaining.

Forgiveness is not about allowing those intolerable actions to continue. Forgiveness is not forgetting. It is not about reconciliation. You do not even have to tell the other person you forgive them, assuming you are forgiving someone other than yourself. Do this for you so that you can move forward with grace. Forgiveness is about being able to move forward.

Physical Effects Of Holding a Grudge

You become shackled by fear, pain, and anger when you hold onto negative emotions and stay in a victim mindset, refusing to forgive the person who harmed you. Your nervous system and, ultimately, your joy and contentment are hijacked and held prisoner to anger and frustration, which eat away at the body and mind. Being dysregulated causes many side effects and makes you, quite frankly, difficult to be around (I was this person).

Physical Symptoms Telling You To Forgive

  • Acid reflux
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Skin Problems, such as eczema
  • Digestive problems
  • Migraines
  • Insomnia

By forgiving, you regulate the nervous system. You literally restore calmness to the body, mind, and soul. You eliminate the poison that was eating you alive. You lower your blood pressure and heart rate. Your body can sleep better. Returning to a parasympathetic state allows the body to rest and digest. You become a better partner, friend, co-worker, and parent.

How to Forgive

  • Decide when you are ready.
  • List everything that you need to forgive.
  • Choose one circumstance or person at a time to work on forgiving.
  • Feel every emotion as it surfaces. It may be a roller coaster. You may need some support. Journaling may help. Some prefer to go alone, while others prefer a partner or therapist. Please do what works for you.
  • Forgiveness needs to be genuine. Just saying empty words without meaning will not work. Those negative emotions will tap you on the shoulder later in life. Be thorough.
  • Write the person’s name on paper. Write why they upset you or even broke your heart. What emotions did they cause? Write what damage they caused you as a result of their actions. Then, write why you forgive them.
  • I like to crumble the paper up and burn it, but if you do not have a fire pit or fireplace, consider cutting it up into small pieces. The idea is to let it go.
  • See yourself as the Greek Mythological Pheonix burning and rising from the ashes, each time experiencing a rebirth and coming back stronger.

Final Thoughts

Forgiveness is the ultimate choice. Choose happiness over misery. When you are ready, you connect with the divine within yourself. You choose to live with love and courage over hate and fear. Choosing compassion and love now divinely protects you. No one can hurt you. You have a new superpower.

You can now spot manipulators and abusive people. Before they hurt you, you can look at them and say, “NO, you cannot hurt me. I see you. I am sorry you are hurting. I forgive you. I feel your pain. I no longer will let you hurt me.” Empowerment is how you take your power back, my friends.

Remove those shackles of pain that hold you back from your natural state of joy, light, and love. Let go of the grudges that only hurt you and make you sick. Do not let the person who hurt you continue to hurt you. Take back your power by forgiving them and by stepping out of the victim mindset and into the divine, peaceful warrior mindset.

Take the high road. When connected to the divine, the light and love you are filled with is enough to overshadow darkness. It will protect you and guide you. You will understand your connection with all beings and have a new level of empathy and understanding. Forgiveness is your ticket to freedom. Give love, be love.

I hope you enjoy this video and song by my friend MC Yogi. I have had the pleasure of meeting him at several Yoga events. He lives by his lyrics and is an amazing person. I hope this leaves you feeling inspired. ❤️💕❤️

Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive anyone you need in order to move forward with freedom.

Peace & Light,

Libby

Today and tomorrow, I am discussing forgiveness on my new YouTube Channel. I would be honored if you also subscribe and join me there.

Forgiveness
Spirituality
Abuse
This Happened To Me
Healing
Recommended from ReadMedium
avatarJulie Gaeta
22 Years of Marriage, 9 Kids Later: How His Affair Transformed My Life

Three unexpected gifts that came from our divorce.

9 min read
avatarJessica Levine
Watching It All Unfold

Life is an amazing puzzle.

2 min read
avatarL. N.
Dopamine Withdrawal: 6 Ways to Tell if You Are Idealizing the Narcissist as You Go Through the…

Breaking Free from the Dopamine Trap

4 min read
avatarFilza Chaudhry
Live Free From Limitations

Forever seek knowledge and wisdom in your daily path

4 min read
avatarAzalea Capote
The Reasons Why I Said No to Love

Learning to Heal and Stand Strong Alone

2 min read
avatarEmmarie Hodge
Your Spiritual Allies — Tarot Pick a Card

Find out which of the high spirits are on your side

8 min read