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“Learning to forgive is one of the great paths to inner peace” Anonymous.

It has been said that harboring resentment and holding back forgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the otherperson dies. Physics dictates that what goes on in the mind will have an effect on the physical body.  It is also interesting to note that forgiveness is something nearly all Americans want — 94% surveyed in a nationwide Gallup poll indicated it was important to forgive — but only 48% said they usually tried to forgive others. Besides making you miserable and zapping your enjoyment from life, un-forgiveness comes with a laundry list of negative health effects. Psychologist Loren Toussaint of Luther University in Iowa was among the first to demonstrate a long-term link between people’s health and their ability to forgive. In what many call the new science of forgiveness, numbers of overwhelming case studies have shown:



The Benefits of Extending Forgiveness

Karl Menninger, famed psychiatrist, once said that if he could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals that their sins were forgiven, 75% of them could walk out the next day!

Forgiveness Quotes

To err is human, to forgive, divine.- Alexander Pope

Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge, and dares forgive an injury. –E. H. Chapin

We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck … But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness. –Ellen Goodman US journalist

 

Forgiveness is of high value, yet it costs nothing. –Unknown

But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45)

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged: condemn not, and you will not be condemned: forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:35-37)

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass. —George Herbert

I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note—torn in two, and burned up, so that it can never be shown against one.
—Henry Ward Beecher

The practice of forgiveness has been shown to reduce anger, hurt, depression and stress and leads to greater feelings of hope, peace, compassion and self confidence. Practicing forgiveness leads to healthy relationships as well as physical health. It also influences our attitude which opens the heart to kindness, beauty, and love. –Frederic Luskin, Ph.D

Forgiveness both practied and received is like clear, cool water flowing over parched lips — healing, refreshing and restoring. –Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP, CH

2010 – not only a new year, but a new decade. Is there someone or situation that needs to be forgiven?  Take some time to search your heart and soul. Forgive, forget, make amends, apologize, restore relationships and walk in peace.  In other words start over and clear your life-slate of past hurts and perceived wrongs. In the journey towards health one should consider the importance of forgiveness in relationship to health and well-being while realizing that those who have health have hope, and those who have hope, have everything.

Sources

“Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness” By Katherine Piderman, Ph.D.
 “Power of Forgiveness – Forgive Others”
 “Case psychologist Exline studies relationship of narcissistic personality, forgiveness”
 “Negative Health Effects of Un-forgiveness”
 “Researchers say forgiveness can prevent disease, preserve health” By Melissa Healy Los Angeles Times
“5 Ways to Forgive: Forgiveness happens in different ways for men and women” By Genevieve Lill
LearningWell.org – Forgiveness Therapy

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