The Power of Forgiveness
So hard. So good.
July 7 is Global Forgiveness Day. It is intended to encourage the art of forgiving. I think most of us have struggled with forgiveness at one time or another. Forgiving others for their trespasses against us can be so incredibly difficult. Forgiving ourselves can be even harder because of the shame we might feel. It is certainly not my or anyone else’s place to judge what someone else might consider an unforgivable act, and one could argue that there are things so horrific that they should never be forgiven.
We also know that harboring ill feelings towards someone for something they did or said, no matter how justified those feelings may seem, will eat away at our psyche and can even have a negative effect on our health.
I have personally experienced things in my life that many would consider unforgivable, and for many years I felt that way, too. But at some point, I discovered the power of forgiveness, and a switch was flipped in my brain. I won’t say that it was quick or easy. Practicing forgiveness is a process and requires intention. But by forgiving the people who hurt me, I was able to let go of a burden I had carried with me for many years, and I am certain that I benefitted from that choice both physically and mentally.
Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can result in major health benefits such as:
Lowering the risk of a heart attack
Reducing pain
Lowering blood pressure
Lowering levels of anxiety, depression and stress
Improving cholesterol levels
Improving sleep
Global or World Forgiveness Day was established to increase goodwill among people and heal them from the constant hurt and pain they carry with them. Forgiveness is a powerful tool on our journey of spiritual, physical, emotional and mental health.
So where does one start with forgiveness? The Mayo Clinic suggests the following steps:
Acknowledge your emotions about the harm done to you and how they affect your behavior.
Work to release them.
Move away from your role as victim and release the control and power the offending person and situation have had on your life.
I would like to add here that forgiving does not mean you have to forget what happened. And if forgiving someone guarantees that they will still be in your life and there is the potential that they may hurt you or someone close to you again, it is absolutely ok to set boundaries.
What helped me to forgive was gaining a better understanding of the people who hurt me, their baggage, the pain, abuse or neglect they had suffered, their own mental health struggles.
Forgiveness has the power to set us free, and that is a beautiful thing.
Sources: https://nationaldaycalendar.com, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org,