The Oxford English Dictionary defines forgiveness as the "disposition or willingness to forgive." Despite this definition, however, the act of forgiving means so much more. It is letting go of grudges and the need for retribution. Forgiveness can be a wonderful thing for both the receiver and the giver, you just have to be open to it. Forgiving someone can be a gift we give ourselves. No matter how difficult it may be, in the end, it is worth it.

Forgiveness is important both for yourself and the person who is being forgiven. If a person is not willing to or cannot forgive, there is little chance of any release to come of a situation. Forgiving is good for you. If you don't forgive, there is a good chance you are harboring unnecessary bitterness, which does nothing except increase havoc within yourself. Forgiveness allows you to put the burden down and push your inner turmoil aside. Choosing not to forgive leaves you stuck in the past when really you should be moving forward. Some people waste years of their life in the past because they are not willing to move on with their lives and forgive the person who did them wrong. We, as people, must forgive each other in order to lead better lives. It helps us grow and thrive in our own ways. Forgiveness is an important part of being happy.

From personal experience, I know that forgiving is hard. If someone has wronged you, freeing them from what they did is not always the first thing on your mind. It can take weeks, months, or even years to summon up the courage to forgive someone. It takes courage and strength to forgive, to let yourself out of the place of the victim. Life is too short to hold a grudge.

Ways to let go of resentment and start the forgiveness process present themselves every day. Just be open to looking for them. Remind yourself that forgiveness is not for the other person, but it is for you. Remember that we are all humans and that everybody makes mistakes. You will want to be forgiven one day, just as whoever you are trying to forgive will want. Try and smile through the situation, because being happy always helps. Forgiveness fades indignation and umbrage. It in no way means you condone whatever action was committed against you, it just means that you are moving on to more important things.

Forgiveness is one of the most important things to be able to do in life. It allows you to move on, it lifts anxiety, it can give you hope for the future. Forgiving aids us in making peace with events of the past and with others. Most importantly, it supplies people with happiness that was previously forgotten. Never disregard forgiveness, because it is usually the best option.