Some one who offends me but doesn't realize they did.
Some one who does it on purpose.
Here in lies the difference in degree. Like being cut off in traffic. Some do it on purpose, some don't even realize they did it.
Again, it is not about them but about me how I treat the situation.
The thing with forgiveness is that it is closure where anger is not. Those that did it unintentionally you can forgive and laugh away. Those that do it on purpose you can forgive and forget. Gone, poof, all better. Anger only keeps it at the forefront. The other thing is with forgiveness no one knows but anger is open for everyone to see. How do you want the world to see you as.
More negative verses positive. Another technique you can learn to do subconsciously to keep the stress down.
This does not mean that if you turn the other cheek you can not do it with a closed fist. Forgiving does not mean letting people walk on you.
I struggle with this burden of anger towards someone who bullied me, and wonder if anyone has successfully dealt with forgiveness, which I think might help.
Yesterday I saw a contemporary psychologist named Andrew Weil describing how important forgiveness is, and I think I'd like to get something he might have written, which I'm sure would touch on that topic.
