“Forgiveness is about you releasing yourself from the weight of what’s behind you.” – Steve Harvey
Let’s be real—when somebody does you dirty, the last thing you wanna hear is, “You need to forgive them.” Oh, so I’m just supposed to let it go like it never happened?
Nah, that’s not how we operate. But here’s the truth: forgiveness ain’t about them—it’s about you.
When you hold onto past hurt, you’re carrying around a heavy backpack full of bricks—anger, resentment, disappointment, betrayal. Every time you replay the offense in your mind, you’re adding another brick.
But guess what? The person who hurt you? They’re not carrying that weight—you are.
You are letting them live rent-free in your mind. And let’s be honest, they ain’t worth the space.
Why Holding On is Holding YOU Back
Tony Robbins says, “Your past does not equal your future unless you live there.” That means whatever happened to you, no matter how painful, does not have to define you—unless you let it.
Science backs this up too. Studies from Johns Hopkins Medicine show that holding onto resentment can lead to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and even heart disease.
Meanwhile, forgiveness lowers stress, improves relationships, and helps you move forward with more joy and success. So the question is—why are you holding onto something that’s making you sick?
What Forgiveness IS (And What It’s Not)
Let’s get something straight—forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean what happened was okay, and it sure as hell doesn’t mean you let that person walk all over you again.
Forgiveness is about choosing peace over pain. It’s about saying, “I refuse to let this situation control me any longer.”
You don’t need an apology. You don’t need validation. You don’t even need to have a conversation. You just need to make a choice—to set yourself free.
How to Start Letting Go
1. Write the “Letter of Release”
Grab a notebook, a piece of paper, whatever you got, and write down everything—what happened, how it made you feel, what you wish you could say. Get it all out.
Then, here’s the power move—burn it, rip it up, throw it away. It’s symbolic. It’s you saying, “This pain does not own me anymore.”
2. Flip the Script on Your Inner Critic
Some of y’all need to forgive yourselves. Yeah, you made mistakes. Yeah, you should’ve known better. But beating yourself up won’t change the past. Every time a negative thought about yourself pops up, replace it with this:
“I am learning, and that is enough.”
Tony Robbins teaches that your language shapes your reality. If you keep saying, “I’m not good enough” or “I always mess up,” then guess what? You’ll prove yourself right. But if you start shifting your words, your mindset changes—and so does your life.
3. Cut the Rope—Literally
This one’s a visualization exercise, but don’t sleep on it—it works. Close your eyes and picture a thick rope tying you to your past pain. Every time you think about it, that rope gets tighter.
Now, picture yourself holding a knife. See yourself cutting that rope and watching it drop. Feel the release. That’s what real forgiveness is—it’s letting go of what’s been holding you hostage.
Proof That Forgiveness Works
Think about some of the most successful people you know—Oprah, Steve Harvey, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. You know what they all have in common? They let go of their past pain instead of letting it define them.
Oprah could have let her traumatic childhood hold her back. Steve Harvey could have let his failures stop him. But instead, they chose growth over grudges.
Your Breakthrough Starts NOW
Forgiveness isn’t about waiting until you “feel” like doing it. If you wait on that, you’ll be waiting forever. It’s about making a decision—right now.
- Write your Letter of Release and destroy it.
- Check your inner dialogue—talk to yourself like someone you love.
- Cut the rope. See yourself walking forward, unchained, unstoppable.
You owe it to yourself to move forward. Are you ready?
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