handswideopen-17Finding the gifts in past challenges is one of the most key elements to living a life of emotional freedom. In order to move toward becoming the person you aspire to be, it’s important to lighten your load so you can free up valuable energy.

The most challenging, traumatic and painful incidents of your life often carry the most weight, however, they each contain valuable gifts of learning, understanding, and compassion. One of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself is to lighten your load and find the blessings hidden in those challenges. You can do this through forgiveness.

Just the idea of forgiveness for many people conjures up feelings of discomfort and, in some cases, adamant opposition. Forgiveness is often viewed as letting someone who has wronged you off the perennial hook of retribution. The wounded ego would have you believe that forgiveness equals defeat.

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