Have you ever found yourself in a situation where pride held you back from saying “I’m sorry,” even though you knew it would heal the wounds? Or found it difficult to forgive someone, holding on to the bitterness instead? And what about the times you kept reliving a painful memory, unable to let go? As the saying goes “The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.”
Apologizing requires courage: saying “I’m sorry” is not just an admission of fault; it’s a willingness to set aside ego and reach out to heal a relationship. Apologies bridge the gap between people, bringing down walls of resentment and misunderstanding. A sincere apology shows that you care more about the relationship than being “right.” It tells the other person, “I value you and I want to make this right.” In a world where pride often leads to estrangement, apologizing is a powerful act of humility and healing.
Forgiveness, on the other hand, is an act of profound strength: to forgive is not to excuse or condone someone else’s behavior, but to free yourself from the burden of resentment. It’s a way of choosing peace over hurt. By forgiving, you are refusing to let someone else’s actions hold you prisoner. It takes strength to let go of anger, especially when you’ve been deeply hurt, but forgiveness clears the path to healing and personal peace.
Finally, forgetting – truly letting go – is the hardest yet most freeing act of all. To forget is not to erase what happened but to release its grip on your present and future. It’s about choosing not to let past hurts define who you are. Letting go is a conscious decision to embrace the present without the shadows of the past clouding your path. Forgetting is, in essence, a form of liberation, giving you the space to welcome new joys and possibilities without the burden of old pain.
There is no tbetter example to illustrate this rule than Dr. Edith Eger, a Holocaust survivor and renowned psychologist. After unimaginable trauma, including the loss of her parents and severe abuse, she eventually emigrated to the US, built a life, and went on to help countless people heal from trauma. In her memoir “The Choice: Embrace the Possible” (Scribner, 2017), she writes not just about surviving, but about the decision to forgive: “I was in a prison long after the gates of Auschwitz were opened,” she said. Her choice to forgive even the unforgivable and let go of the past is a staggering example of emotional liberation.
Together, these three little actions are life-changing. They remind us that we have the power to heal, to find peace, and to experience happiness regardless of what life throws at us. So apologize when you are wrong, forgive to release yourself from bitterness, and forget to set your spirit free!
