Healing Through Forgiveness

Releasing hurt and resentment can be good for physical and emotional health.

Most people have experienced what holding a grudge can do to a relationship and how emotionally taxing it can be to maintain a grudge. Stress, hurt, anger, and revenge fantasies can all be part of it. The resulting stress can manifest into, or exacerbate, high blood pressure, heart disorders, anxiety, and depression, as well as over-eating, over-drinking and other habits used in attempt to escape the pain.

Whether it is siblings who no longer speak, or divorced spouses whose hatred is palpable when they’re in the same room, the resulting anger is toxic to body and soul. Forgiveness, however, can dissolve it, and the pain.

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS AND ISN’T

“Forgiveness is an act of the heart,” says Diana Winston, Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA Semel Institute’s Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC). “We forgive for the freedom it brings to our own hearts.”