I have spoken to several people recently who have a lot of stored up pain from their past. Hurt and bitterness can cause you to miss out on so much of the day-to-day pleasures that are available for us, even if we are in presently in a bad position because of past mistakes or because of what has been done to us. Yes, he hurt you, and the pain runs deep, but the only way to free yourself from the past, and the pain, is to forgive the other person and yourself. We must consciously discipline ourselves to shake off the bitterness, and move forward to a brand-new place mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. However, when we move, we must leave no forwarding address for the hurt, the pain, and the bitterness. We must even leave the old furniture and wardrobe behind.
Bringing any of the emotional or mental furniture from the past will only bring memories that will allow the rest of the past furniture to discover your location, and before you know it, it has all moved in again. Now you are bitter, hurt, and angry all over again. I know I have hurt people in my life, but I did not do it intentionally, nevertheless, the wound was caused. I asked them to forgive me so that I could move forward and away from the guilt and shame. This freed me to receive forgiveness from God, the person I hurt, and from me.
In talking to others about the pain and bitterness in their lives, I discovered that sometimes it is there unconsciously. Someone hurt them in their childhood, and they have become untrusting as adults. Often the father or mother abandoned them physically or emotionally, and now there is a strong defense against being hurt again, with an inability to truly connect with another person. Whatever the case may be, there are things in our past that are sometimes too painful to look at or address, but until we do, we cannot be fully set free of them. So, when it hurts too much, look for the strength to face the pain, and do what it takes to understand it, and discipline yourself to work through it. When you discover the reason for the pain in yourself, you may also see that the person(s) who hurt you were also victimized in the same way. By disciplining yourself for successful relocation, you can move to an amazing place of health and wellness and bring others along with you.