Some words are harder to say than others. For a lot of people, “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you” are among those difficult phrases to communicate. In this day and age where healthy communication is scarce, it’s important to learn forgiveness, even when an apology or sense of closure is not provided. You’ll find that the more forgiving you become, the more peace you have in your life.  Most of the time, we get so caught up in our own pettiness or pride that we don’t realize how avoidable or insignificant the whole situation is. By letting go of hostility, you can discover improved health and peace of mind. Naomi Lambdin (11) describes her experience with letting go of negative energy and learning to not hold grudges.

“I am able to find the better in people and let go of things because I know that everybody is making mistakes that they regret. It can be difficult to let go of negativity. I usually try to funnel it out by talking to somebody that I trust about it or let it out somehow. It’s not good to keep it inside, so it’s important to write it down or share it with somebody else,” Lambdin said.

If you’re not a naturally forgiving person, you can become one by consciously choosing forgiveness. In order to forgive someone, first you must understand and accept what has happened. There’s nothing you can do to change the past, so you just have to choose to learn from it and move on with your life. It’s best to try not to dwell on negativity. Of course, everyone has bad days. Some days it might be easier to not let little things bother you, other days you’ll have to work harder to stay calm. Izzy O’Connor (12) advises ways to deal with days when forgiveness doesn’t come as naturally.

“I think it just depends on the day whether you’re going to be more forgiving or not forgiving, but I think it’s important to put yourself in a good headspace. When you are starting to get stressed out or you feel some sort of negative energy, go outside, go for a walk, read a book, talk to somebody that you like, or just do things that you enjoy; so you realize that the negative energy isn’t always there,” O’Connor said.

 Whether you’re learning to forgive yourself or someone else, it’s a necessary skill to utilize. The only way you will ever find peace with yourself is by letting go of some of the grudges that are burdening you. The more time you spend holding on to those negative emotions, the less time you have for things that will benefit you in the future. It’s just an extra burden you shouldn’t have to carry.