Forgiveness may be good for your health, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. While thoughts of pairing forgiveness with health related issues may seem foreign there is mounting evidence that there is in fact, a strong correlation between the two.
Studies have been done showing that the ability to forgive can reduce blood pressure, muscle tension as well as feelings of anger, depression and anxiety. A lack of forgiveness and the inability to let go of a past hurt can impact lives in ways people don’t realize. Forgiving can improve lives on many levels emotionally, physically and spiritually.
With that being said, to forgive another or to forgive ourselves is not always an easy thing to do. Forgiveness is difficult and it is a process that can take time. There are steps that need to take place to ultimately forgive and find the peace needed to protect our physical and emotional health.
One of the most important steps in the journey of forgiving is to be able to acknowledge the hurt, pain and anger felt. These are feelings we experience based on either the actions of another or on our own. It is also imperative that we face the situation with honesty and objectivity. If our vision on what truly happened and why is impaired it can make it very difficult to forgive.
Give yourself time and recognize that healing from most hurt requires time and change. Healing does not occur overnight and there are situations that we must learn to change and be able to view things in a different manner. Perhaps there was something happening in a person’s life when the hurt or pain happened. This can help us to separate the incident from the personal pain we feel.
At times it is helpful to hear or say the words “I FORGIVE YOU” to start the healing process. These three simple words are very powerful and often times a key catalyst to bring peace back into our lives and hearts. Forgiving can also bring a renewed sense of hope and happiness to our daily lives and the freedom it can give is liberating!
Remember, forgiveness is a topic that creates a bond amongst all people and all nations. We all struggle with it at some point in life and if we can recognize how destructive it can be to our emotional well-being and physical health we may find it easier to do. Forgive for health and to bring that joy back to your life; your heart, body and mind will thank you for it!
In Peace-
Michele