Life is too short to be anything but happy. Forgive quickly, take chances; give everything with no regret. Forget the past, with the exception of what you have learnt; and remember that everything in this world happens for a reason. True happiness comes from a peaceful mind filled with love for all and hatred for none.
Forgiveness is a virtue of noble men. But the nobler of the noblest men are those who forgive quickly. This looks simple in the ordinary sense but to be able to forgive quickly is actually difficult. It is difficult in the sense that, it takes a mature mind to easily forgive deep hurts, sheer injustice or obnoxious acts done without any concrete reason. The cheering news however is those who forgive quickly go to bed without worries or bitterness in their heart. They also live longer than their peers because they never give room for hatred in their minds.
We all have the innate ability to forgive quickly. It is a matter of making a firm decision to easily overlook others people’s wrongs and move ahead with our lives. Truly, your life will never remain the same if you forgive quickly. You will discover such inner strength and happiness only those who forgive quickly enjoy. And your life will be free from unnecessary bitterness, burdens and grudges.
Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. It ignites love and extinguishes hatred. Robert Muller rightly said, “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”
Forgive yourself
Too often, we hardly forgive ourselves for the mistakes that birthed our scars. Too often, we do not want to accept our faults and learn from them. Accept your faults, learn from your mistakes and keep firing, keep reaching and keep striving for your next level. We all make mistakes and that is why we are humans. We are bound to overreact, misjudge, feel anxious or be impatient about life’s issues. But the best decision you can ever make in your best interest is to forgive yourself and move on. Forgive yourself right NOW.
A remarkable number of people spend years blaming themselves; some people go further to punish themselves unjustly, neglecting the very essence of life and becoming outcasts. But this prescription has not worked and cannot work because the first step towards recuperation in any disease is to accept that you are sick and you need treatment. In other words, you must accept your mistakes, forgive yourself and turn your scars to stars.
More often than not, mistakes are forgivable, but only if one has the courage to admit them. Those who discover happiness are those who have learnt to always forgive themselves quickly and also to take to heart a vital lesson from each experience of their lives.
Forgive others
Forgiveness is a valuable virtue of the great. The ability to forgive is one of man’s innate potentials. To overlook others’ wrong, to pardon others’ unfair treatment, is in us as human beings. But it is only the brave that make use of this great virtue. The father of the modern Indian nation, Mahatma Gandhi, once remarked, “The weak can never forgive, forgiveness is the virtue of the strong.”
In our daily life, people will continue to offend us because they are humans. In the same vein, it is also human for us to forgive them and wish them well. You never can tell – you may still need their help or forgiveness in the future. “He that cannot forgive others break the bridge over which he must pass himself, for everyman has need to be forgiven,” said English historian Thomas Fuller. The practice of forgiveness remains one of the most important virtues; to err is human, after all.
Life can be truly rewarding, meaningful and beautiful if we learn to forgive ourselves, forgive others, live in peace and take absolute responsibility for our happiness. Remember, life is too short to be anything but happy – forgive quickly.
ACTION PLAN: I forgive quickly. I learn from my past but I live in the moment. I release all form of anger, resentment, bitterness or hatred locked in my heart.
AFFIRMATION: I am free. I am blessed and highly favoured.
Seasan Kareem is Health & Business strategist
