It is hard to forgive someone that has hurt you. I know, I have been there. There is nothing worse than feeling betrayed, embarrassed, and disgusted by the person you trusted and believed in the most. Although you may feel as if you could never trust that person again, or even look at them the same, there is hope. It all comes down to picking yourself up off of the ground and practicing an act that is often times taken for granted: forgiveness.

Now, I’m not telling you to pretend like nothing ever happened, or to go back to the way things were, but I am encouraging you to take a step back and reassess the damage. Be the bigger person and let go of the negative energy that is not allowing you to see clearly. Life is about so much more than holding onto painful memories. Learn from your past, and then move on.

People frequently associate forgiveness with weakness, and I want to erase that association! Forgiveness requires inner strength, compassion, empathy, and the ability to recognize that everyone makes mistakes. After all, we are only human. Choosing to forgive sets you up for so much more than you could imagine. It gives you the chance to start over. You now posses the ability to reflect on what went wrong, and to make sure it doesn’t ever happen again. It is a second chance, taking something that was broken and rebuilding it into something even better.

Because forgiveness takes strength it is often a multi-step process:

First, you need to recognize that forgiveness takes time and constant effort. Once you have committed to dedicating your time and effort towards forgiving this person, you have to take a step back and look at the situation from an outsider's perspective. Even if someone hurt you and neglected your feelings, you might have to take their feelings into consideration in order to see the situation objectively. Then you have to think about the future, and how forgiving them will strengthen your bond if you do it correctly. Now that you know how it feels to be hurt, you have to forgive them in a way that promotes a change within them. Otherwise you will just get hurt again. This will be a sensitive time in your life and getting closure by asking for some space while you recuperate is completely justified. Depending on the magnitude of the situation, you may need to take some time to think about what the person means to you and why they deserve to be forgiven. Don't rush the process, there is no time limit on forgiveness and you have every right to take as much time as you need. The important part is that you are keeping an open-mind and continuing to stay positive.

I strongly encourage everyone to practice forgiveness. What’s the point in giving up on someone who you love or are in love with? All you would achieve is a feeling of regret and loss. Why choose to feel anything other than happiness? Forgiveness is a reflection of you. When you are truly at peace with yourself and are comfortable with who you are as a person, you will be capable of forfeiting any actions that will limit you in individual growth.

Life is a gift, an experience, and an adventure that you are lucky enough to be a part of. Why waste your time dwelling on the past? Take a hold of the ability you are given to learn from your experiences. Realize what truly matters to you in the long run, and don’t let anyone make you think otherwise. Forgive those who have hurt you, but never forget what they taught you.