
Thoughts of unforgiveness aren’t good for us. They affect us like water in our car’s gas tank – we don’t run right. And those we won’t forgive can be affected too.
The health-giving effects of forgiving have been well documented, to the point of becoming common knowledge. Back in 2004, a Harvard Medical School publication summed up:
“Researchers found that mentally nursing a grudge puts your body through the same strains as a major stressful event…a link between forgiving someone for a betrayal and improvements in blood pressure and heart rate…those converting anger to compassion felt less pain and anxiety than those who received regular care.” (See also 11/23/11 report by the Mayo Clinic staff)
And that’s just about the body. Of course forgiveness can heal relationships and bring more peace and happiness.