Relationships - The Forgiveness Factor

If relationships are important to you and you'd like them to flourish and be mutually rewarding, I recommend that you remember these two things...

1. You're not aware of everything that's going on in the lives of the people you know. If you did, you wouldn't be so critical. Yes, if you're close, you probably know a lot. But there's a lot they don't tell you. And every life journey is a personal, private mystery. This is true even of your immediate family and closest friends.

2. No one is perfect. If they're human beings, if they're still alive, they'll make mistakes, they'll do dumb things on a regular basis. This is true of everyone - including YOU, smarty-pants. If you're honest, nearly everything that anyone has ever done that irritates you - you've done the same thing yourself, probably multiple times.

I guess this theme has been a persistent one in my blog posts...

A Rule for Relationships: Forgive the Small Things

Six Ways to Be Strong for Relationships

Saved Again by Humility, Tolerance and Forgiveness

My New Source for Humility and Forgiveness

The bottom line: Life challenges you every day, and don't you know it! Well, it challenges everybody. So exercise a little humility and give the people you care about a break! Don't expect so much of them.

The closer you are to someone, the greater the possibility for friction - and the more often you'll need to exercise forgiveness. When you feel resentment rising, let it go.

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2011. Building Personal Strength .