In the book 30 days To Happiness I outline why forgiveness is the key to living a happy life. Forgiving others, forgiving yourself and forgiving the world is crucial because as soon as you let go of all lack and resentment, you now have an opportunity to become abundant and filled with internal gratitude.

Ah, forgiveness; so underestimated yet so powerful. Every day is a new opportunity to forgive, but why would we ever let go of our anger? None of us is willing to reflect or pull the curtain back. Therefore, learning to forgive is one of the hardest and strongest things we might ever do.

Forgiveness is therapeutic; it’s a healing process. Only those who practise forgiveness can spend a life full of happiness. The rest are stuck in the same old rut of resentment, which affects them emotionally, physically, and mentally.

This is what happens when you don’t forgive:

● Your joy evaporates, you may never feel internally happy, and there always remain barriers to your contentment.

● Your body weakens as the guilt of hurting yourself or the bitterness of being hurt by someone else eats you up alive. It destroys your life and makes you physically sick and spiritually crippled.

● You invite enemies and negative people into your life by harbouring forgiveness. This further drains your mental health and gives people a chance to walk over your bleak self.

● It pollutes your soul and corrupts your mind by entertaining the thoughts of revenge.

If you are having trouble forgiving yourself, the world or others, here are a few things you can do that may help.

Write a letter to yourself.

Write a letter to someone you need to forgive. Write one letter and get all the emotion out on paper. Then…throw it in the bin! Then write another one and if you feel comfortable enough, give it to that person to read.

Feel the emotion. Every time you feel that anger, unforgiveness, or anxiety, take the time to feel the emotion and understand where it is coming from in the body. Then say out loud “I choose to forgive (them or myself) even if I don't want to.” This help so much with the forgiveness process so much rather than shoving it under the rug.

Action Step: Act as if you have the power to forgive yourself, everyone, and everything every single day. Feel the emotion that comes from unforgiveness, then let it go. Place it in the river and watch it float away.