An Eye for an Eye leaves Everyone Blind!
In addition, do we ever feel that things are truly even? Therein lies the real problem. Why in the world would we make the conscious choice to walk down a path that offers only disappointment, dissatisfaction, and ongoing anger as the destination possibilities. Granted, we begin the walk down the path in hopes that we will be reigned victorious and proven profound, but can you even come up with one example in your life where you sincerely found that to be the outcome? If your honest, you can’t. And if you’re okay being dishonest, the only person you’re really lying to is yourself.
History continues to prove that there isn’t a single shred of value in lying to yourself. Why would someone even consider that? Is the revenge emotion so strong in some of us that lying to ourselves is an acceptable strategy if we can hurt someone the same, or even better…MORE, than they hurt us? Unfortunately, I am bombarded with examples of this every time I engage with the news or social media. While I agree it’s not all bad, and that there’s a LOT of good out there, I’m saddened by what appears to be the sheer number of people out there ready to engage in battle before they truly understand what they’re battling over. They’re already 100 feet down a directionless path with nary a clue to where the path will actually lead them. What to do? Keep reading.
Bitterness. It’s what fuels revenge. Dang! Seems like bitterness invades all our minds at different points in life. Usually when it can cause the most harm to our general well-being. But I gained some positive perspective when a mentor of mine, Jack Krasula, shared a quote spoken to him by Weiss Olusola when he said, “Being bitter is like ME taking poison in the hope that YOU die!” That quote explained what I had previously struggled with in articulating how bitterness had negatively impacted me every time it entered my mind. It also allowed me to eliminate any shred of bitterness from my life. Bitterness held no value nor any positive outcome. That quote can help YOU eliminate bitterness from your life too. Go back and read it again and then ponder the power of its message. I bolded it for a reason.
Please don’t be misled by anyone claiming that “an eye for an eye” is biblical. While the words appear in Exodus, a book in the Old Testament, it pertained to a retribution law intended to be a guiding ethic for legislators and judges; it was not meant to advocate personal vengeance. In our current society, we’re held accountable by the laws of the country we live in and those laws are enforced by law enforcement and the judicial system. If you’ve been wronged by someone breaking the law, law enforcement and the judicial system can be turned to for help. If someone hasn’t broken the law but you feel you’ve been wronged just the same, then you have to make a choice between a path that offers only disappointment, dissatisfaction, and ongoing anger OR…wait for it….FORGIVENESS.
One of the most powerful tools every human possesses in their toolbox of life is forgiveness. It’s really one of the most important tools that should be mastered as early as possible in life. It’s one of the most important gifts that every parent can provide their children that will serve them their entire life. It can instantly remove a whole bunch of negative emotions from ever having to be experienced, which is exactly why we should all utilize it whenever an opportunity arises. And in life, opportunities to forgive others will occur on a regular basis.
So, will you? Will you give this new forgiveness perspective a try worthy of what you’re capable of? Will you prepare to experience the mental well-being that forgiveness instantly provides? Will you share with others how the power of forgiveness has immediately improved your life? Will you break the anchors named revenge, disappointment, dissatisfaction, and ongoing anger that have been chained around your neck holding you back from the wonderful life you’re intended to live? All you need to break those chains is to initiate forgiveness at the very beginning before negatives even have a chance to enter your thought process. Begin right now embracing the value forgiveness offers you and amplify the value with each new day. It’s the quickest path to consistent joy in life. Hey…I Believe In YOU! GiddyUp!