You have too many other important things in your life that need your positive energy.

I want to encourage you to let go of any grudges,
anger or lack of
forgiveness in your heart.

Few things drain your energy or steal your joy like
refusing to
forgive someone who has done you wrong. Whether it
is a backstabbing
co-worker, an irresponsible family member or the
rude driver who cut
you off in traffic this morning, it is critical to
your well-being
that you not hold on to grudges and anger. When you
do, it drains
your energy, increases your stress level, and
diminishes the quality
of your everyday life. You can hold on to grudge
and the other person
has no idea that you're upset with them. Don't
allow space in your
mind for grudges. You have too many other important
things in your
life that you need your positive energy!

You might not have even noticed some of the grudges
you are holding,
but this week, I challenge you to make a list.
Write down all of
things you are holding a grudge against others for
and a list of the
people you need to forgive. Then one by one, make a
decision to
forgive. Make a phone call, write a letter, send an
email or have a
conversation if you need to. But make a choice to
cleanse your mind
and spirit of the poison that springs from an
unforgiving heart. How?
Consider these four principles to help you let go
of grudges and
forgive.

1. RECOGNIZE THAT "HURTING PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE."
Insecurity, anger, frustration,
and jealousy are
just a few of the negative emotions that can be the
root cause of
people's negative actions and words. It isn't an
excuse for bad
behavior, but it can help you to not take people's
offensive words or
actions personally. Hurting people hurt people.
That rude boss,
neighbor, relative or co-worker may act as though
nothing bothers
them, but their hurt is obvious by how they treat
you and others.

2. HAVE MERCY.
People make mistakes. Some are just plain ignorant.
Others have
never learned how to treat people well. Have mercy
on them. Pray for
them. We have all done things that hurt others or
offended them, and
God has mercy on us. We must do our best to have
that same kind of
mercy on others.

3. PRAY.
There are times when you simply will not feel like
forgiving someone.
They may have crossed the line in a major way.
Perhaps they not only
hurt you, but those you love. I know from
experience that it is
possible to forgive people who seem unforgivable.
All things are
possible with God. The larger the offense, the more
important it is
to pray for your ability to forgive.

You can pray a simple prayer such as this: "Lord, I
don't know how
to forgive this person so I need your help. Change
my heart so that I
can forgive. I can only do this through your power
and not in my own
strength." Simply praying such a prayer will begin
to soften your
heart and lift the weight of an unforgiving attitude
from your
shoulders. When you are able to forgive after
praying, you will know
that it was the power of the Holy Spirit making an
inward change in
you.

4. LEARN THE LESSON
Often, we go through adversities and challenges to
learn important
lessons. If you find yourself regularly being
treated in a way that
warrants forgiveness, you must ask yourself, "Do I
need to end this
relationship or change these circumstances?"
Forgiving someone
doesn't mean you allow them to do the same thing
over and over. It is
possible to forgive someone, and yet, move on from
the relationship.
It's all about the boundaries you choose to set.
Protect yourself
from people and situations that are not supportive,
healthy or
reciprocal.


Forgive and let go of grudges! Then watch your
energy level rise.

Until next time,
Let go of the grudges and forgive!