Have you found ways that make forgiveness easier?

We have the reason half and the feeling half. Always lead with the reason half. I think it is right to let someone know that a wrong has been done. If you say nothing, they think nothing is wrong. Everything you do in life comes back to you in time so revenge is never necessary. If you hold onto your feelings of anger and never forgive then you choose to lead with your feelings. You will be lost in a sea of emotions. It's never fun being lost. Can you ever be happy angry and unforgiving???? I think not!!! Who is being punished now???

Yes, It was actually something Dr. Phil said several years ago. If you constantly live in anger and are unable to forgive then you are giving a part of your life over to that anger and resentment, and it will continue to harm you. If you forgive and let it go, then it no longer has control over you. That made a lot of sense to me and I have tried to live by that motto ever since. I was angry for several years because I had a boss who abused me pretty badly, a few years after I no longer worked for her I was still really angry about the way she treated me, after I heard Dr. Phil say this I thought to myself, she can't hurt me anymore. I have a wonderful marriage, beautiful children, a lovely home, and plenty of friends and family that love me, why I am continuing to let this woman have a place in my life. I don't need her in my life, I am going to forgive her, wish her the best and move on with my life, which she no longer has any hold or affect on. It does not mean you have to forget, but just let go for your own sake.

My first reaction is full of emotion so I try to step away until I cool down and can view the situation from both sides. Once I can do that I usually see that given the facts as seen from their point of view, (even if I know they were wrong) I may have reacted the same way they did. If you can put yourself in anther's shoes you are much more able to forgive. Does this work? A lot of the time, other times I just know I'm right and they are wrong, never to be spoken to again.

As a middle aged person I can say that forgiveness is necessary to have a light heart and healthy life. It is one of those lessons that comes with maturity.

I find that when I'm at the decision at forgiving someone, it's very hard. The feeling is unbearable. It's as if someone is asking if they could rake half my heart out, and ask me after they've done it. But from past experience, I know that forgiving is not only good for the other person but also the best for myself. I feel much better afterwards, and I'm often glad that I forgave them. But again, don't let this hinder why you should or should not forgive someone.

Yes it is much easier to forgive than to hold grudge to someone. I think that anger will not do anything good to you. You will only experience stress, worry, remembering the pain the other person has cause you. But I think there is the right time for forgiving someone.