Do you find yourself struggling to let go and forgive? Well, you aren’t alone. We all struggle to let go, move on and forgive. The point is it’s totally normal, cut yourself some slack, you are only human. With that said, holding onto negative energy or thoughts isn’t good for you. You will notice that you tend to be more angry, sad, and even depressed because of it. Luckily there are a few things you can do to help you forgive and forget.

Facing reality is the first step to forgiving and forgetting. You need to be ready to face the truth. Recognizing that you were hurt is the best way to get out of denial. When you are in denial, you harbor bad feelings and thoughts. Both of which aren’t good for you and won’t make you feel any better. Once you come face to face with your reality you will be able to decide on your next steps. Now we know this seems easier than done but take your time.

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Be patient with yourself and take things one step at a time. Now that you are in a better headspace, you will be able to decide and clearly think about how you want to move forward. This could really be anything you are comfortable with. It could be moving, deleting social media, or even starting completely fresh. You see once you are able to think clearly, you will be able to make a decision that best first you and not just an irrational one. Moving forward won’t be easy. This means you have to work at it.

Yes, distraction can help, but you can only distract yourself for so long. Instead, take that energy you use to think about the situation and put it into something you are actually passionate about. You will be surprised at how quickly you forget about what made you so sad in the first place. Having your energy invested in something you love will feel much more rewarding in the end.