How to Let Go of a Grudge

When someone hurts or dissapoints you in life, feelings of resentment tend to follow. Having prolonged negative thoughts about that person is known as "holding a grudge." This behavior will not only deteriorate your relationship with that person but will also affect your mind and body. Feelings of bitterness are bound to bring more negativity into your life. By practicing forgiveness, you will free your mind and body and experience lower blood pressure, less stress and healthier relationships, according to MyOptumHealth.com.

Instructions

• 1

  Empower yourself. Stop being the victim who is being hurt by the actions of another. You have power over your emotions, and the way you react to them. You have the choice to let go of grudges and forgive others.

• 2

  Evaluate your emotions. Try to understand what you are feeling beneath the anger. Write these emotions down to visual them. Acknowledge your feelings, but imagine the joy of letting them go.

• 3

  Understand the situation. Was there a particular instance that brought on these emotions? Was it a repeated series of events? If the person conducted an isolated event that hurt you, it is often worth forgiving. Realize that people make mistakes and that to expect perfection is unreasonable. If you find yourself repeatedly being hurt, it is still beneficial to forgive. You may decide it is best to distance yourself from such unsavory characters.

• 4

  Embrace forgiveness. When you have established your feelings and feel that you are ready to forgive someone, you must forgive them entirely. This means without expectation of change or reaction from the other person. To let go of a grudge is to benefit your mental and physical health, and it should be treated as such. You may forgive the person directly or internally, whichever you are most comforable with.