Finding happiness after 60 isn’t always easy. After all, by the time we reach our 60th birthday, most of us have experienced more than our share of hardship and disappointment. Ironically, the things that happen to us are relatively easy to deal with.

What hurts most are the times that we have been let down by other people, or, even worse, ourselves.

The problem is that negative emotions can build up over time, preventing us from living the life that we deserve. When we carry bitterness and anger in our hearts, we find it hard to connect with others and are less likely to pursue our dreams.

Understanding the Connection Between Forgiveness and Finding Happiness

The alternative is hard, but essential.

In order to find happiness after 60, we must learn to forgive others – and, more importantly, we must learn to forgive ourselves.

It’s important to remember that forgiving someone does not mean that we need to let someone back into our lives. We can make an attempt to understand and forgive someone without fooling ourselves into thinking that they have changed. Forgiving someone also does not require us to interact with them or to ask for an apology.

Remember that anger is a tool. It helps to keep us safe. It reminds us not to trust people who hurt us. But, at a certain point, anger’s blade turns on its wielder. The trick is to replace anger with wisdom and understanding before it is too late.

Try to see mistakes – both yours and others’ – as learning experiences. You can’t change what happened to you, but, you can decide how you react to your past. Forgiveness is an essential part of this process. It is only after you forgive someone that you can focus on your future with an open heart.

Do you agree or disagree that forgiveness is essential to finding happiness after 60? Why or why not? Please join the discussion below.

Here’s a short video that I recorded on the importance of forgiveness.