Forgiveness Is The Secret to a Happier Life

Here is a colorful video with the message that forgiveness is the secret to a happier life. I would add that gratitude helps maintain the happier life.

With regard to forgiveness, kindness and gratitude, Mother Teresa had this to say:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

As mentioned in the video, “What would you say if I told you that psychologists have found a substantial correlation between reduced stress, better heart health, lower anxiety, lower pain perception, and most importantly, higher overall happiness all attributed to your ability to be a forgiving person?”

The thing to do is to sit down, take a few deep breaths, and begin to think about someone you are currently holding a grudge against or have some kind of unresolved conflict with. Write down who this person was, what the event was that caused the tension between you. Then, in your own words, and in your own way, try to forgive that person.

What did you experience when you did this exercise? Did you allow a feeling of forgiveness to brighten up your day? Please share.