​It's day 5 of the Self Care Challenge and I want to talk to you about something that can really change your life for the better. Today’s habit is the act of forgiveness and how it can free you to move on from past hurts and pain.

The challenge in forgiveness is that it isn't cut and dry and that it isn't something that you can do one time and it is over. Frequently the act of forgiveness is more like a daily routine such as taking a shower.

When there has been a betrayal, a loss of friendship, or the end of a relationship, many people, including me, get stuck in a place of pain.

Even when you work through the pain and you begin to feel happy, you can be haunted by the circumstance or by the person who caused you the pain.

Pain has this boomerang effect that only you can halt. Until you can fully forgive who or what has hurt you, including yourself, the pain will be your unwanted constant companion.

Forgiveness is not about letting someone off the hook for their actions. Instead, it's about freeing yourself from the negative emotions and energy that are holding you back.

It's not easy to let go of the hurt and pain caused by someone's actions, especially if it was intentional or repeated. But holding onto anger and resentment can be toxic to our emotional and mental health in the long term.

When someone hurts you, a common and understandable reaction is anger. It’s actually part of the grieving process. Anger in and of itself is not a problem – it is what you do with anger that can help or hurt.

Anger can be the catalyst for great change if you express your emotions and assert your needs.

According to University of California, Berkeley research, “anger helps you cope with the stress by first discharging the tension in your body, and by doing so it calms your “nerves.” That's why you may have an angry reaction and then feel calm afterward.”

But chronic anger does begin to negatively affect your daily life.

John Hopkins Medicine study showed that People who hang on to grudges are more likely to experience severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other health conditions.

They suggest that the act of forgiveness counteracts these negative physical conditions. It is the antidote to the pain that accompanies anger.

Dr. Karen Swartz of Johns Hopkins Hospital says, “Forgiveness is not just about saying the words. It is an active process in which you make a conscious decision to let go of negative feelings whether the person deserves it or not,” Swartz says.

In the today's episode, I’ll share with you the 3-step process I learned that has really been helping my clients. And I'll share a daily mantra or prayer that brought me peace in a time of struggle.

Remember that forgiveness is a process, and it may take time to fully forgive someone. But by taking these steps, you can start to let go of the past and move towards a brighter future.

So, I encourage you to take these steps towards forgiveness, and free yourself from the negative emotions and energy that are holding you back.

Trust me, you'll feel so much lighter and happier when you do.

Thank you for your time today. Watch in the Facebook Group for a link to a masterclass I’ll be doing next Wednesday night.

Please book a call if you need to discuss what’s going on in your life. Let’s chat and I’ll share strategies on how you can go forward with more love and joy in your life..

Go to website and look for the Book A Call button. CKCollins.co