Forgiveness is often a hard thing for people to grant to others. For some reason, it’s easier to hold onto a grudge. Perhaps it’s because granting forgiveness means letting go of hurt and pain. Perhaps it’s because holding onto the story of how you were wronged is what empowers you. Maybe it’s because granting forgiveness to others makes you feel like less of a person.

I read these words recently, and I think they are important for you to read to: “I don't forgive people because I'm weak. I forgive them because I'm strong enough to know that people make mistakes.”

Make peace and forgive others who have wronged you. Carrying around the load of people you are mad at does not hurt anyone but yourself. Interestingly, most of the time people you harbor negative feelings towards are not even aware you feel the way you do. So it truly only increases your stress to hold on to angry or hurt feelings.
You need to cut the dead bodies loose and move on with your life. They may not deserve your forgiveness, but do it anyway. Don’t do it for them; this is not about them. Do it for your own peace of mind. Do it because you know people make mistakes.

The other thing forgiveness helps you do is be who you say you are. Pretending to be one thing on the outside while being something else entirely on the inside causes undue stress. This is easier said than done, particularly when you are young. But learning to have integrity and contiguity is important. It gives you peace of mind if the person looking back at you in the mirror is the same person everyone else knows.

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Author's Bio: 

Dr. Tim Reynolds founded Living Every Minute in 2009 to allow him to share his passion for finding success in every minute with others. He dedicates countless hours each week to helping other people change their lives through mentoring, life building, giving inspirational talks and writing for his free weekly newsletter.

Life wasn't always the picture of perfection it is now for Dr. Tim. In fact, he was the first member of his family to graduate high school. He joined the military shortly after graduation, where he graduated from the Special Forces Q-course in July of 1982. He served as a Green Beret medic on an A-Team, as the Battalion medic and eventually as a Special Forces Battalion Surgeon for the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served both enlisted and as an officer for 17 years.

After getting out of the military, Dr. Tim decided he wanted to go to college to be a doctor. His guidance counselor told him he was too old. He would be 32 before he finished his degree. He told her, "I'm going to be 32 either way." He went on to graduate college with honors.

It was his passion for helping people that inspired him to become a medical doctor, and in 1993 he graduated Summa Cum Laude with an MD degree from the University of Utah. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Texas A&M Scott and White in 1996 and is board certified in emergency medicine. He is the managing partner for HealthCARE Express, a group of urgent care clinics rapidly expanding across the United States.

Prior to starting HealthCARE Express in 2006, Dr. Tim held numerous positions across the medical field, including: medical director of the Wadley Regional Medical Center Emergency Department and level II trauma center; president of E-Med Services, LLP and of E-Med Billing Solutions, LLP; associate clinical professor for the Area Health Education Center at the University of Arkansas; and founding member of the Greater People’s Clinic of Texarkana Board of Directors.

In addition to his medical experience, Dr. Tim is also an entrepreneur and successful businessman. He is currently the chief executive officer of TL Reynolds Properties, LLP, a real estate investment company; and he is a managing partner of JJET Developments Ltd., a real estate development company.

Dr. Tim has served on numerous other committees and boards throughout both the medical and business communities and is published in various journals and publications. He is sought after as a presenter at many national conferences.

In his leisure time, Dr. Tim enjoys spending time on his Ranch in Atlanta, Texas, where he lives with his beautiful wife, Pam, and their five amazing children. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, is a SCUBA rescue diver, and a pilot. He also enjoys body building, golf, and hiking.

Dr. Tim is a world traveler, having visited over 40 countries on six of the seven continents. He is a firm believer in Living Every Minute of life and teaching others to do the same.

Learn more at www.LivingEveryMinute.com