If you want to be selfish (i.e. do something that is really in your best interest and will benefit you) then choose to forgive others for their transgressions against you because forgiveness is the best thing for you, your mind, your body, your spirit and your life.

Yet the beautiful thing about God is that He created a universe in which there are no “unequal contracts.” There is no selfishness possible in the area of forgiveness. It turns out that forgiving others is the same as forgiving ourselves.

Why? Because we can only forgive others when we have forgiven ourselves for our own perceived shortcomings. It’s a truism that we are angriest and most unforgiving toward those who are acting out qualities we have.

Bottom line, the antidote to stress is forgiveness and total acceptance of yourself. So face whatever it is about yourself that makes you uncomfortable. After all, you can’t hide anything from God or yourself and trying just uses up energy that you could use for other things.  [Read more →]