For my genius hour happiness project, I don't think a lot of research needs to be done...but rather a lot of thinking. I mean, I do look for inspiration and articles to read, but thats more so that I can think about what other people have said and relate it to my own thought process on happiness.
One thing I've definitely learned over my happiness journey is to forgive. Forgiveness IS NOT easy, I repeat, it IS NOT easy. When someone does something to hurt you, its not like that thought goes away. So you may say you forgive someone, but each and every time the thought or feeling of that pain they caused you comes back, its hard to really forgive them. If every time that thought comes back, or something triggers that memory and it still hurts, does that mean you really forgive that person?
I read an article on Forgiveness by the Mayo Clinic, saying that if you don't practice forgiving people you really are the one that suffers. When you learn to forgive it can lead to; healthier relationships, higher self-esteem, less stress, improved heart health and so much more. When you hold grudges and never forgive someone, the only person its really hurting is yourself. Its a never ending cycle and at some point you need to get out of it. The person who hurt you can only apologize and prove themselves so much. Without that forgiveness and letting yourself truly let go, you're causing yourself more harm than good.I think the most important part of forgiveness and forgiving someone is that forgiveness isn't something you do for the other person, its something you do for YOU!
No matter what, when you're hurt its not something that you'll forget. But forgiving someone is in your power; you'll remember the hurt but no longer be bound by it.
Remember,
you deserve to be happy!
So let yourself be!
