Tapping into the power of forgiveness can make our lives better. We hold on to resentment, maybe even unconsciously, that make us unhappy in the present. Often times we turn to food to feel better, to cope, to suppress our feelings. Wouldn’t it be more effective to address your uncomfortable feelings? The best way to do that is forgiveness.
Forgiving is not easy, even for the most enlightened among us. If you’ve been allowing your present health to be controlled by past hurts, I urge you to commit to forgiving. These steps can help:
Talk to a therapist. Sometimes talking about those past hurts can take away their power over you. Talking with a therapist is different than talking to friends because we are trained listeners, do not judge, and do not have opinions about your feeling!
Write a letter to the person you’d like to forgive. You can decide whether or not you send it.
Change how you think about forgiveness. It is not saying that what happened is okay. It is simply releasing the power it has over you.
Don’t forget to forgive yourself. Sometimes we can be harshest with ourselves. If you ate too much last night, be kind to yourself. Speak to yourself the way you would speak to a friend.
Understand that you are responsible for your own attitude. Don’t let holding a grudge keep you from feeling free, open, and powerful in your own life.
Forgive and watch how much easier your relationship with food becomes.