Losing a loved one is never easy. It's only in their absence that we truly understand what they meant to us. Grief has a way of opening doors to emotions we never expected – some gentle, some overwhelming. Maybe, just maybe, you need to allow yourself to feel them all.

There is 'no schedule' to Healing

If it's anger you feel, let it out. If sadness lingers, embrace it. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve, or let go of loved ones. People around you might expect you to move on quickly, but grief doesn’t follow a schedule. Some wounds take longer to heal, and that’s okay.

What about Resentment?

But what about resentment? Some losses come with unresolved pain, leaving us questioning whether forgiveness is even possible. Maybe the real question isn’t whether we should forgive, but whether holding on to the hurt serves us. Perhaps, in time, we find our own way – not by forcing forgiveness, but by making peace with what was. This is what many of us should probably do.

Conclusion

You can still move forward without forgiving. If you choose to forgive, it doesn’t mean you condone another person's actions, or doesn't mean they're not accountable. Is forgiving important? No, you can still let go of the anger and resentment through understanding – it is through understanding that you can heal, mentally emotionally, and physically.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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4 comments on “The Importance of Forgiveness?”

  1. Funny you should have this topic.

    I have just forgiven a friend of mine for something he did 6 years ago. It's not healthy to hold on to something that happened that long ago that has no bearing on today.

    I do feel better about it plus it affected another friendship I had because my friend had to basically take sides. Now we are all together again like it should be.

    1. You're right Randy. It's not healthy.

      It's also far easier to work on forgiveness, than to hold on to something that happened many years ago. Ill feeling tends to magnify itself and can have a negative bearing on our health in the longer term.

      If they are friends they will understand and will try to work things out.

  2. I totally agree with you. We should forgive others, because it does hurt us in the long run. It's not healthy.

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