Forgiveness is a gift that you give to yourself. Forgiveness ia almost a selfish act because of the benefits to the one who forgives (which is you).
You practice forgiveness for two main reasons. One is to let others know that you no longer wish to be in a state of hostility and the other is to free yourself from the self-defeating energy of resentment. Forgiveness breaks the self-defeating cycle of anger which only hurts us and holds us back. We learn to forgive so we can overcome those demons and have emotional relief. It helps us to move on with our lives.
Forgiveness moves us out of the past and sets us free. When you hold resentment towards another, you are bound to that person by an emotional link that is stronger than steel.
Forgiveness makes us better people. Keeping score of old scars makes us less than the person that we really strive to be. It strengthens our character. Strength of character means the ability to overcome resentment against others and allows us to forgive.
Most of all, forgiveness improves our mental and physical health. Scientific research shows that learning to forgive is good for one's health and well-being, good for mental health and good for physical health. Forgiveness gives us peace of mind. Forgiving those who hurt us is the key to personal peace.
Another one of my favorite quotes (geez, I have so many :-)
"A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain" by Samuel Johnson
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