How to Forgive someone who has hurt you

Why Forgive?

When you hold resentment, grievance, feeling of hatred towards anyone, or if you have been holding on to past hurts and pains, then you will constantly be putting your body and mind under pressure. These emotions release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol and have adverse effects on our health and wellbeing, cardiovascular and immune systems.

On the other hand, when we forgive and let go of the burden of judgment and blame, our body starts to returns to functioning the way it is supposed to function for our health and healing.

Forgiveness is the recognition that actions that are perceived as hurtful or wrong are the perspective of your ego self, not your real higher self. The ego-self within you feels the need to stay hurt and seek revenge. But your real Self knows that the Universe will rebalance all actions at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way in accordance with the cosmic laws. All you need to do is to trust and believe in your good.

Some powerful ways to overcome negative feelings and forgive those who have hurt you:

1. Put your thoughts down on paper

Write on paper, one by one, all ideas about how you are being limited by the influence of the past. For example, write how the anger you are feeling is affecting you. Make sure you go through every area of ​​your life one by one.

2. Choosing to Forgive

Think and write about how your past is hindering your path to success. This will help open your mind to the fact that you need to get out of the past and adopt the attitude of forgiveness and compassion. Tear the paper while repeating the words, “From Today I choose to make forgiveness and love a way of life for me.”

3. List down names of those you need to Forgive

List all the possible individuals who have hurt or harmed you physically, mentally, and emotionally in any way. Make sure you don’t leave anyone out of this list.

Take your right hand, place it on each name, and repeat, “I forgive you completely, I bless you with good health and happiness.” Repeat these statements three to four times for each person.

4. Meditate to stay Calm

Try to sit still for few seconds. Allow yourself to feel connected with your real self through Silent sitting. Focus on your breath for few minutes.

If thoughts come, allow them to come. Don’t try to stop them. The moment you notice thoughts coming, acknowledge them and slowly take your attention back to your breath.  Breathe slowly and deeply for some time. Then mentally chant these words, ‘ I forgive everyone.’

5. Experience Peace through Chanting

Chanting is a great way to stop the negative thoughts going on in your mind. The chanting of ‘Om’ and ‘Gayatri Mantra‘ in particular helps to calm the restless mind. It will help give you peace and restore emotional stability and a feeling of well-being.

Chant verbally and slowly so that the positive vibrations travel from your mouth to the rest of your body and spread throughout your environment. It is said that the best time to chant the Gayatri Mantra is 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm in the evening.

All the Best
Dr. Karishma Ahuja