Forgiveness is not forgetting about what took place. Forgiveness is about really remembering what you are beyond the pain.
At a certain point, seeking spiritual growth is no longer about acquiring more knowledge; it becomes about letting go of stories, identities, and wounds we have harbored too long. Among the weights of the soul, unforgiveness is perhaps the heaviest.
We may hear the soul crying out between breaths amid immense stillness, but not for justice, meaning for freedom. Herein lies the place where forgiveness holds power; not as a grand gesture of justice but as a sacred return to God.
Really, what is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness has been misinterpreted for millions of years.
It is not saying what happened was okay.
It is not forgetting or condoning.
And it’s certainly not denying your pain.
Forgiveness is choosing to no longer carry what hurts. It is the conscious act of releasing the emotional weight attached to an experience, not for them, but for you.
The power of forgiveness is the freedom it creates inside your own heart. It is the moment when the wound stops being your identity and becomes your initiation.
Why We Struggle with Forgiveness
Many of us resist forgiveness because it feels like weakness. The ego says, “If I forgive, they win.” The inner protector says, “If I forgive, I’ll be hurt again.”
But withholding forgiveness is not power—it’s protection rooted in pain. And pain, when buried, becomes bitterness.
Unforgiveness affects your energy, your health, and your connection to others. It keeps you locked in the Body Mind—the reactive space of fear, blame, and separation.
Only through compassion and the power of acceptance can the healing begin.
Acceptance says:
This happened. I felt this. I am choosing now to free myself.
Forgiveness as a Path of Spiritual Growth
In many spiritual growth books, forgiveness is not presented as an afterthought—it is central to transformation.
Forgiveness is not for the faint of heart. It is for those who are ready to rise beyond the story. To transmute pain into wisdom. To soften into strength.
In the practice of Sanyaas, forgiveness is not about moral perfection—it is about spiritual realignment. It shifts you from the ego’s demand for retribution to the soul’s invitation to peace.
The energies of forgiveness demand that the past be forgiven before it can create room for love, presence, and grace in the present.
The Power of Forgiveness in Relationships
All relationships experience rupture. We disappoint. We get disappointed. We miscommunicate. We hurt, and we are hurt.
But forgiveness is how we come back to the heart of connection.
When We Forgive
We release our partner, friend, or family member from our unspoken expectations.
We open space for vulnerability and honesty.
We recognize that everyone is growing, not perfect.
When We Ask for Forgiveness
We soften our pride.
We take responsibility with grace.
We create space for repair, not blame.
Forgiveness doesn’t make the relationship weaker—it makes it real.
Don’t Forget: Forgiving Yourself Matters Most
We often extend compassion to others, but struggle to do the same for ourselves.
We replay our mistakes. We shame ourselves for our younger choices. We believe we should have known better.
But the soul is always growing. And self-forgiveness is the doorway to expansion.
Say to yourself:
- I was learning.
- I didn’t know what I know now.
- I forgive myself, and I allow joy to return.
The power of forgiveness toward yourself unlocks every other form of healing. It allows you to show up to life no longer bracing, but blooming.
How the Power of Breathwork Supports Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a multidimensional experience. This is where breathwork comes in as an invaluable element.
We soften the body with conscious breathing, still the mind, and open the heart. Stored emotions, tightness, grief—all begin to release.
Here’s a simple practice:
- Inhale deeply for four counts
- Hold for four
- Exhale slowly for six
- While exhalation, silently say: “I release.”
The Power of Breathwork creates that inner spaciousness for forgiveness to arise, not out of pressure but out of presence.
How to Practice Forgiveness with Gently Honest Intent
Forgiveness is a journey; it does not occur in one sitting. Here are a few simple yet powerful steps:
✦ 1. Acknowledge the Hurt
Be honest about what happened. Let yourself feel what you’ve buried.
✦ 2. Find the Lesson
Ask: “What did this teach me about my boundaries, truth and worth?”
✦ 3. Feel, Don’t Fix
Let emotions arise. Cry, breathe, write. Healing happens when we feel fully.
✦ 4. Choose to Release
Say (even silently): “I forgive you. I’ll free you. I free myself.”
✦ 5. Repeat as Needed
Forgiveness may need to be offered daily, for a while. That’s okay. It’s not about speed. It’s about sincerity.
Conclusion
The power of forgiveness is not in changing what happened—it’s in reclaiming who you are beyond what happened.
You are not your wound.
You are not the version of yourself who hurt someone.
You are not the one who was betrayed.
You are the soul that is learning. The soul that is healing. The soul is becoming more loving each time you return to softness.
So if your heart is heavy today, begin here.
With breath.
With awareness.
With compassion.
And say:
I forgive. I release. I return to love.
Let that be your prayer. Let that be your power.
Forgiveness doesn’t change the past. It changes your presence. And in your presence, the future begins to heal.
Also Read: How to Start Living Consciously and Transform Your Life