“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
Forgiveness isn’t just an act, it’s a life-changing attitude…
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude”
Forgiveness is generally defined as a conscious and intentional decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance towards that which has caused harm or hurt.
In other words, to forgive means that you consciously choose to change your feelings and attitude towards those that have caused you harm, whether they deserve it or not.
Forgiveness is ultimately a choice for freedom. Freedom from negativity. Freedom from allowing someone rent free space in your mind and emotions. Freedom from a need for revenge and hatred.
“Forgiveness”, as Martin Luther King Jr. stated so succinctly, “is not just an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”
To live in a state of forgiveness does not mean you become a doormat who will just willing take any and everything that is tossed your way with no regard for your feeling or well-being. It means that you do not dwell in resentment and that you refuse to stay in a state of negative suffering needlessly.
Your well-being is actually front and center when it comes to actively living with a state of forgiveness, because it means that you forgive yourself. You ease up on your so called “deficiencies” and errors and you acknowledge when you mess up and strive to do better. When you forgive yourself, you are truly more capable of creating a happier, healthier you.
When you forgive others, you are taking care of yourself. While you may still feel pain and hurt and anger when someone wrongs you, when you forgive you are able to attend to your feelings without adding an extra burden or carrying it along with you. It’s not always easy, but only because you must come face to face with your actual emotions in that moment and you must accept that you are not the arbiter of justice or karma (which really, really, really sucks). By forgiving you release whatever hold the person who hurt you may have and you get to move on unimpeded, which is ultimately the best “revenge” against those who would do such a thing knowingly anyway.
Practicing forgiveness is one of the best forms of self-love and care that you can do and it’s something you can do at any time and in any place. Simply start with yourself and see where it takes you – it might just blow your mind and world wide open!
Namaste ~ Ella
PS. Check out my other Martin Luther King Jr Affirmation Mondays right here!
~ Affirmation Mondays are positive words of wisdom, insight and joy to add a bit of cheer to the start of your week and any day you need a bit of a pick-me-up! For even more inspiration please check out my Affirmation Mondays Pinterest Board and my Quote-spirational Board!
~ Check my Instagram on Mondays for Inspirational quotes and every day for a little jolt of happiness!
Lawhimsy 