For a Healthy Heart, Forgive
Letting go of past hurts makes room for love.
We all suffer wrongs, big and small, on a daily basis. Another shopper cuts in front of you in the grocery store line. A coworker takes credit for your idea. A friend talks about you behind your back. A parent wasn't there for you. A spouse has an online flirtation.
If, as Alexander Pope famously wrote, "To err is human; to forgive is divine," sometimes we're all too human, aren't we?
Depending on the grievance and the person who erred, forgiving can seem not just difficult but impossible. Angry, vulnerable, frustrated. We replay hurtful experiences again and again in our minds, for weeks, months, even years.
While it’s easy to recognize the emotional and spiritual toll, did you know that holding a grudge, can be heartbreaking—literally?
Research over the past decade has proven that rehashing past wrongs can have a negative impact on all of the body’s systems. But the heart is particularly affected. The increase in heart rate and surge in blood pressure can lead to ailments ranging from insomnia to cardiac arrest.
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Comments
I was given a suggestion
I was given a suggestion years ago that has helped me immensely in the forgiveness process. I was told , one forgives the person not necessarily the ACT. Then I was told to pray for that person acknowledging that they (like myself) are spiritually sick and to add the desire for them to be granted all of their life desires. Continue this prayer until the weight of resentment/anger has lifted. Sure works for me. The weight of resentments/anger is not worth all of the time spent "refeeling" the offense.
Wonderful story and yes, I ,
Wonderful story and yes, I , too, had to make a choice. It was not an easy choice, but, for me, it was best in the long run. I am no longer depressed,crying every day,and angry. You have to do what is best for YOU and nobody else. The best thing is I have no regrets and in the end it is worth it.
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