Conviction Quote by Leymah Gbowee
““The person who hurt you--who raped you or killed your family--is also here. If you are still angry at that person, if you haven't been able to forgive, you are chained to him. Everyone could feel the emotional truth of that: When someone offends you and you haven't let go, every time you see him, you grow breathless or your heart skips a beat. If the trauma was really severe, you dream of revenge. Above you, is the Mountain of Peace and Prosperity where we all want to go. But when you try to climb that hill, the person you haven't forgiven weighs you down. It's a personal choice whether or not to let go. No one can tell you how long to mourn a death or rage over a rape. But you can't move forward until you break that chain.””
About This Quote
Holding onto anger binds us to trauma; forgiveness releases that weight, allowing progress toward peace and prosperity.
In simple terms: Forgiveness frees you from the past.
Let go of grudges to move forward.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal healing
- conflict resolution
- mental health counseling
- support groups
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can you take to begin forgiving?
- How does forgiveness affect your sense of justice?
Forgiveness can be unsafe for some victims.