Forgiveness is the Key to Personal Growth and Success (video blog)

Forgiveness is often misunderstood as a sign of weakness or an act of letting others off the hook. In reality, forgiveness is a powerful choice that allows you to reclaim control over your life story. When you forgive, you free yourself from the burden of resentment and pain, opening the door to personal growth and expansion. This post, inspired by a video created for TheLouJulianna, explores how forgiveness serves as a foundation for growth and empowerment. Here are some practical insights and examples to help you embrace this transformative process and manifest faster again.

Forgiveness is the key to free your mindset and claim control over your own story.

Understanding Forgiveness Beyond the Surface

Many people think forgiveness means forgetting or excusing harmful actions. Forgiveness does not erase what happened or imply that the wrong was acceptable. Instead, it is a conscious decision to release the grip of anger and bitterness. This release allows you to stop reliving the pain and regain emotional balance. It clears up your energy and gives you back your power.

Forgiveness is about taking back control of your narrative.

When you hold onto grudges, you let the past dictate your present feelings and future choices. Forgiving shifts the power back to you. It means you decide how your story continues, rather than being trapped by past hurts.

Watch this quick video in which I explain how and why forgiveness will set you up for a more successful life.

How Forgiveness Fuels Personal Growth

Growth requires change, and change often begins with letting go. Forgiveness creates space for new perspectives and emotional healing. Here are some ways forgiveness supports growth:

• Reduces emotional weight

Carrying resentment drains energy and focus. Forgiveness lightens this load, allowing you to invest your energy in positive pursuits.

• Improves mental clarity

Forgiveness helps clear mental clutter caused by negative emotions. This clarity supports better decision-making and creativity.

• Builds emotional resilience

Choosing forgiveness strengthens your ability to cope with future challenges. It teaches you to face pain without being overwhelmed.

• Enhances relationships

Forgiveness can repair damaged relationships or help you move on without bitterness. This improves your social support and emotional well-being.

• Encourages self-awareness

The process of forgiving often involves reflecting on your feelings and values. This deepens your understanding of yourself and what you want from life.

Taking Back Control Through Forgiveness

When you forgive, you stop being a victim of circumstances. Instead, you become the author of your own story. This shift is empowering because it:

• Releases you from victimhood

Forgiveness means you no longer let past wrongs define your identity or limit your potential.

• Restores your sense of agency

You choose how to respond to pain, rather than reacting out of hurt or anger.

• Transforms pain into strength

Forgiveness turns difficult experiences into lessons that fuel your growth.

• Frees you to pursue your goals

Without the weight of resentment, you can focus on your ambitions and personal development.

Practical Steps to Embrace Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a process, not a one-time event. Oftentimes, we have to forget again and again.

Here are practical steps to help you begin:

1. Acknowledge your feelings

   Allow yourself to feel hurt, anger, or sadness without judgment. Recognizing these emotions is the first step toward healing.

   
   

2. Understand the impact

   Reflect on how holding onto resentment affects your life. This awareness can motivate you to forgive.

   
   

3. Decide to forgive

   Make a conscious choice to forgive, even if you don’t feel ready. Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling.

   
   

4. Express forgiveness

   You can do this privately through writing, meditation, or speaking to the person if appropriate. Utilizing the famous prayer "I'm sorry. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you."

   
   

5. Focus on self-compassion

   Forgive yourself for any role you may have played and treat yourself with kindness.

   
   

6. Seek support if needed

   Talking to a trusted friend, counselor, or support group can help you process your emotions.

Forgiving the Situation

This ground breaking practice has absolutely saved my life in many ways, and it's one of the most important thing I have taught my mentoring clients.

Sometimes, the idea of forgiving someone is simply too much. It's inconceivable. And that's okay. No one is asking you to do the impossible.

But of all of the above is still valid, forgiveness will set you free and set you up for success, so we want you to get there. And the softest yet most effective way to do so, is by forgiving the situation.

Forgiving the situation looks like this:

I forgive this situation. I forgive the fact that this happened to me. I am willing to let go of the pain that was caused to me.

See how you're actively forgiving but not involving a specific individual yet?

This is how you ease yourself into the feeling of forgiving without triggering yourself.

Overcoming Common Barriers to Forgiveness

Many people struggle with forgiveness because they believe it means forgetting, weakness, or condoning bad behavior. Here are ways to overcome these barriers:

• Forgiveness is not forgetting

You can remember what happened while choosing not to let it control you.

• Forgiveness is a strength

It takes courage and self-awareness to forgive, especially when the hurt runs deep.

• Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation

You can forgive without resuming a relationship if it is unsafe or unhealthy.

• Forgiveness is for your benefit

It frees you, not the person who hurt you.

Cultivating Forgiveness as a Habit

Like any skill, forgiveness improves with practice. You can cultivate forgiveness by:

• Practicing gratitude to shift focus from pain to positive aspects of life

• Engaging in mindfulness to stay present and reduce rumination

• Journaling about your feelings and progress

• Setting intentions to forgive regularly, even for small offenses

  
  

These habits build emotional flexibility and prepare you to handle bigger challenges with grace.

Your Tarot Card for Forgiveness

There are actually 2 Tarot cards that I find perfect to use as a symbol of your forgiveness. (For more on how to use Tarot to manifest, see my resource page here).

The Star

The Star is the card of healing. The Star tells you that through every dark moment, there's a light still shining, there's guidance available. And that for every wound, there is a healing process. For every wrong doing, there is forgiveness.

The Star helps you move on without judgement, without condition.

The High Priestess

The High Priestess is the one who knows. She knows secrets beyond our realms. She knows the bigger picture. She knows our higher selves more than our every day selves. She knows forgiveness as a powerful alchemy tool. She is above what happens here, just like you can be, once you decide to join her into reclaiming your full power.