REACH 10.8 ❍ Freeing Yourself from the Burden of Unforgiveness
You have considered the decision to completely forgive the person who hurt you. You not only have seen the benefits of forgiving, but you also experienced real emotional change as you contemplated how the person who hurt you thought and felt. You have more empathy for the person than when you started, and you have seen that emotional forgiveness can improve your own character. And you have thought more about how to become an excellent forgiver.
- With all that in mind, clasp your hands and extend your arms as far away from your body as possible. Imagine that the burden of hurt and unforgiveness is in your hands.
- Hold this burden for about thirty seconds. As your arms grow tired, think of all of the other things you could be doing with your hands (and with your life) if you could just let go of any remaining unforgiveness and start doing something else.
- Remember that holding this burden hurts you, not the wrongdoer. But letting go helps you both.
- If you feel like you are ready to let go and make the true decision to forgive, open your hands and let your arms fall back to their normal position.
- Feel the relief of that burden lifting. Know that you can get back to your life now that you have forgiven.