Not being able to forgive and let go, it’s something that almost everybody in this world has experienced at some point in their lives. One wishes that life was perfect, but most of the times, it is not that way. There are occasion where somebody might offend you and affect your overall well-being. At times, you can easily forgive and forget, but at other times, it might be too difficult. And it’s normal to feel that way at first. We are human beings–we have feelings. But something that you must realize, sooner or later, is that opting not to forgive can actually do you more bad than good in the long run–both externally and internally. Forgiving is good for the body as it is for the soul.
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
― Gautama Buddha
Sometimes your attacker might come forward and apologize for any distress his/her actions might’ve caused in your life (which takes a lot of guts to do), and at other times–that will not occur at all. When nobody comes forward, in order to have a peace of mind, you’ll just have to forgive that person within yourself so that you can go on with your life. Holding a grudge for an individual that has betrayed you, disappointed or caused you some sort of physical harm in your life, it’s not healthy at all. On the other hand, if you are able to forgive, you’ll have many health benefits. here’s Five Different Benefits of Forgiving
1. Reduction of Stress Levels
When you hold on to grudges deep within you, you are constantly thinking about that certain person who caused anger or pain with his/her actions. Feeling this way causes stress; therefore, you will not be able to focus on other things, such as your job, family, well-being, hobbies or driving. Yes, holding a grudge is a very powerful feeling that must be eliminated to prevent stress levels to rise.
2. Reduction of Pain
Believe it or not, according to a recent study performed by researchers in the Duke University Medical Center, having a forgiving heart might lower both physical and emotional pain, because forgiving individuals are more relaxed than those individuals who are filled with resentment and therefore feel more tense.
3. Being Able to Forgive Helps Keep Your Heart Healthy
In a recent study, conducted with a great number of participants, it was determined that those individuals who hold on to grudges had higher heart rates, while the participants who seemed to let go of these types of matters had lower heart rates.
4. Reduction of Anger
People who are always holding grudges seem to always be anxious and in a bad mood, while those who aren’t seem to be more relaxed and friendly. Holding on to grudges will not only make you look like a mean person but it will also shave years off your life. It has been reported, by a handful of studies, that those people who forgive tend to live longer lives than those who do not.
5. Reduction of Blood Pressure
According to a recent study, forgiveness has been linked to lower blood pressure. People who suffer from high blood pressure are often suffering from a stressful situation in life, which might be caused by a number of things–including not being able to forgive.
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
As you can tell, letting go of things and leaving them in the past is the best way to live this life. Holding grudges can only bring you negative benefits. People who forgive will more than likely have better relationships with other people, feel more hopeful and feel happier. There is always a moment of grieve, but sooner or later, you’ll have to let go of it at some point. Letting go doesn’t mean you are going to become best friends with the person that made you feel this certain way, it just means you are going to forgive, leave it in the past and walk away in peace.