Step 20 - Forgive and Forget

Day 20 of the National Blog Post Month challenge where I’m writing a blog post every day along the theme of 30 Steps to Happiness and Contentment.

Things happen in life sometimes and it's difficult to see why.  There are times in everyones life when someone does something that hurts us.


We have a choice how to react to such times.  The initial reactions of hurt and anger are difficult to avoid, they are instinctive feelings and are perfectly natural, but after those initial gut reactions, we have a choice.  We can either hold onto them and become resentful and bitter, or we can let got of these negative feelings and forgive and forget.


Feelings of resentment and bitterness are negative and serve no purpose.  They create bad feeling around you and more importantly within you. If you hang onto feelings of resetment and bitterness, it can only do you harm in the long run.


You can not be happy and contented if you hold onto negative feelings, so let them go - forgive and forget.  I'd share a personal experience with you, but I've forgotten them all!  I'm joking, of course you can't totally forget something you felt wronged by, but you can forgive and by forgiving you will find that the memory will become less hurtful to you.  If you insist on holding onto the negative feelings you actually reinforce the hurtful event or situation into your memory. 


Forgiving is not the same as ignoring.  If the wrong doing is serious enough to make you feel this person is not worth continuing an assosication with, then distance yourself from them if you can.  Just don't hold onto those feelings of resentment, it's not good for you.


It is actually a really liberating feeling to forgive somebody.  It takes strength and courage to let go of resentment, but it makes you feel stronger and good about yourself to acknowledge that you've managed to rise above the situation.  It leads to greater understanding of yourself and others.

So, don't be resentful and bitter - forgive and forget, you'll feel a whole lot better for it.

You may be interested to read the other posts in this series:
Step 30 - The Key to Happiness and Contentment
Step 29 -You are the master of your own destiny
Step 28 - Don't give up on a good relationship
Step 27 - Don't Judge , Live and let live
Step 26 - Don't Worry, by happy
Step 25 - Never give up
Step 24 - Get by with a little help from your friends
Step 23 - Go with the Flow
Step 22 - Enjoy the moment
Step 21 - Love what you do
Step 20 - Forgive and Forget
Step 19 - Unconditional giving
Step 18 - Smile and the world smiles with you
Step 17 - Work to live, don't live to work
Step 16 - Surround yourself with Positive People
Step 15 - Always look on the bright side of life
Step 14 - Where there's a will there's a way
Step 13 - Silence is Golden
Step 12 - Feed your Soul
Step 11 - Follow your Dreams
Step 10 - Use your time wisely
Step 9 - Don't be too hard on yourself
Step 8 - Consider what you value most
Step 7 - Find time for Yourself
Step 6 - Make time for Family and Friends
Step 5 - Don't take yourself too Seriously
Step 4 - Feel the Fear and do it Anyway
Step 3 - Love what you Hate
Step 2 - There's no such word as CAN''T
Step 1 - Find the Best in Every Day