Selfish Forgiveness

Our grudges come with an opportunity cost.

They sit at the top of our minds where other, more valuable thoughts should live.

Someone we love. Something we’re creating. A problem worth solving. Something we’re grateful for.

Forgiveness lets the grudge go without forgetting what happened or the lessons we learned.

We just stop giving the grudge space we’d rather use for something better.

Maybe that’s selfish forgiveness.

And I’m okay with that.

h/t – Paul Graham’s 2010 essay, “The Top Idea in Your Mind,” and Tim Ferriss for bringing it back to my attention this week.

Photo by Peter Luo on Unsplash

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Author: Bob Dailey

Bob Dailey. Born and raised in Southern California...now in Oklahoma. Graduated from (and met my future wife at) Cal Poly Pomona, in 1988. Married to Janet 37-plus years. Father of two: Julianne and Jennifer.  Grandfather of 9! Held many leadership positions in small, medium, and large companies (and even owned a company for about 7 years). Tractor operator, competitive stair climber, camper, off-roader, occasional world traveler, sometimes mountain biker, and writer.

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