Forgive and forget?

As we stumble along this road of life, we do occasionally run into some emotional potholes. Hurt feelings, resentment, anger, fear, and frustration are potholes that we create. How we handle those potholes determines the ride, and as we are discovering, the ride is what really matters.

These potholes can cause some serious chronic "injuries” that hang on for a long time and put excessive wear and tear on our bodies. They have lasting effects on a person's health.
Fortunately, there are ways we can prepare for and handle these emotional potholes that will not only leave us healthy and unscathed, but also stronger and able to experience a more meaningful journey.  Preparation involves recognizing how we judge others, their actions, events or anything else.

Nothing is really good or bad, right or wrong, until you judge it so. When you really think about it, judging is a process of rating your own opinions and perception. So it can help to try and see the situation for another's perspective and allow that you might have misinterpreted the situation.

You know you have a problem when a phrase, someone's mannerism, an aroma, a sound, or a visual scene causes a "long-forgotten” event or person to jump into your consciousness. It's those thoughts that slip into your mind when it isn't the subject of what you are already thinking about.

We have evidence that forgiveness is the key to handling emotional potholes positively It benefits you, the forgiver, not the other person. It is a conscious action. It is an emotional action. Forgiveness neutralizes the emotional stress, allowing your mind and body to respond to the now, not the baggage of the past.
As long as you hold a grudge, are bitter, angry, or in any way upset about incidents in your past, the "other person” is in control. He/she/it is controlling your life, your physiology, and your health. Is that what you really want?

Here are 5 steps to dealing with bad experiences—getting over the emotional potholes of life. And, here's the important part: you must truly mean and feel each step with the same belief and emotional intensity that occurred with the original event.

1. Forgive yourself.
2. Forgive the other person.
3. Give the other person permission to forgive you.
4. Learn to see the good in the situation.
5. Be thankful.
   

Life is a journey full of unpleasant emotional potholes. Forgiveness will help to smooth our journey so we can enjoy every minute of life!