The Power of Forgiveness

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A study reported in Harvard Women's Health Watch (Dec. 2004) reported that forgiving those who have caused you pain can improve your overall physical and mental health and can do more for you than the person you forgive.  The Journal lists five proven health and wellness benefits of forgiveness that have been scientifically studied and proven beneficial:

a) Stress Reduction. Researchers found that harboring a grudge subjects your body to the conditions of a major stressful event-muscle tension, increased blood pressure, and increased sweating.

b) Heart Health. Scientists have found a link between forgiving someone for an act of disloyalty or betrayal or improvements in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as a measurable decrease in workload for the heart.

c) Reduced Pain.  Subjects with chronic back pain who meditated on converting anger to compassion felt less pain and less anxiety than those who did not.

d) Improved Relationships. Women who forgave their husbands resolved conflicts overall more effectively.

e) Greater Happiness. A study showed people who spoke about forgiveness during therapy experienced greater results than those who did not.