The Golden Rule. Despite the amount of conditioning we receive as children to do unto others as we would want done to us, we have a natural drive to do unto others as is done to us. That instinctual lust for vengeance. We want an eye for an eye even when, in the long run, the process would be more costly than just letting go. The

When we hold on to our hurts, our wrongs, we build up a well of negativity and bitterness inside of us. This prevents us from doing what God needs us to do and what we need to do for ourselves. We get caught up in our own destructive cycles, putting our grievances before our purpose, losing sight of what’s important. From a psychological standpoint, forgiveness offers us a chance to accept change, and that’s something humans have the hardest time with.

The act of withholding forgiveness suggests a few things. You might be holding on to whatever enmity or bitterness there because it’s all you have left of this person. You’re afraid to let go or move on because it’s admitting defeat. Maybe you’re so petty that all you have to give yourself meaning is the refusal to let go and forgive that person. It’s hard, I know, being a human isn’t easy.