Renewal as a Mindset: More than just Actions
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.” Martin Luther King.
Hello! For the newcomers to our blog, welcome; for those who frequent our blogs, welcome back! Over the past few weeks, we’ve had some guest authors sharing their thoughts on the tricky difficulties that come along with forgiveness. We’ve focused on the healing power of forgiveness and ways in which we may seek to forgive ourselves and others for the hurts we experience. For Part 4 of 4 part of our Spring Renewal series, I want to focus on the aspects of Renewal.
How can I be renewed through forgiveness?
Martin Luther King Jr. once noted that “forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.” I want you to take a moment to pause and contemplate what that means. Forgiveness – what we generally think of as the act of releasing judgement for an act onto another or oneself – is not just about the action, but rather about your attitude. Notice Dr. King didn’t say your attitude towards another or towards yourself. That’s because attitude is universal. When we forgive and are merciful, our attitude changes. The way we see others fundamentally shifts. Everything becomes different, and we are made new!
How can anger and resentment poison my mental wellbeing?
As we’ve covered throughout this series, forgiveness is powerful. It liberates us from any and every hindrance in our pasts and creates a path forward whereby we can overcome the obstacles that present themselves. By forgiving, we can experience real, powerful healing. If we let the anger and resentment in, it can do the opposite! If we don’t forgive, it can embitter us, make us jaded, and make us uneasy. We can form barriers to not only healing but other people. It can affect every relationship we have, including the ones we have with ourselves and God. Too often, we are the barrier to renewal and healing because we stand in the way, perhaps fearful that forgiveness will make us vulnerable.
How do I start the process of renewal?
The first step is to acknowledge your own struggles to forgive. Whether you’ve struggled to forgive yourself or someone you are or were close to hurt you, the first step is to recognize your struggle. Seek peace. Be merciful. It isn’t just something that happens overnight. Every day you have to wake up and decide to forgive. You have to work through your anger and your enmity as long as it remains present in your being. The goal is to live each day a little bit better than the one before.
If you feel yourself struggling to forgive, or if you are ready to tackle the issue head on, the clinicians on our team are both experienced and ready to help you. We are trained and have extensive experience working with and helping people deal with these very struggles. Feel free to schedule an appointment today.
