Does forgiveness heal the perpetrator or is it the key to freedom for the victim? Is there power in forgiving someone who has wronged us or does it only send them a chance to hurt us again? What is the balance between holding a grudge and letting yourself be free from the energy of doing so? How do we forgive those we love when we have scars to show where they have hurt us in the past?

Does love constitute forgiveness or does forgiveness constitute love? We usually forgive those whom we love out of the need for their role in our lives, but it can be ambiguous about how much damage we can take from one person.

In order to have healthy, loving relationships, we must establish healthy boundaries between ourselves and our loved ones. We teach people how we want to be treated, not the other way around. You must own the power you have inside of you that knows what you deserve and your energy must match this internal force inside of you if you want to have healthy relationships with those you love. By forgiving them, you are taking the negative energy away and replacing it with a blinding light of love that overpowers the darkness inside of your relationship with them.

Love is not blind, but it is accepting of these faults and shines this radiant light that makes these faults lesser in terms of all of the things you love about an individual.

But when is too much?

I don't think you can conceptualize love or the power of forgiveness. Love is one of those beautiful things that we cannot hand out "How To" guides for. There is no formula, there is no "right way," or any of those things we use in all of the other aspects of our lives. Only you can judge what or whom you love, and if they deserve your forgiveness or not.

Trust the force inside of you, the one that knows who you are at your very core, and shine the white light of forgiveness on those you love. It will heal them, but more importantly, you.