Forgiveness transforms! People consistently become more loving, friendly, and compassionate after deep forgiveness. Emotional pain is released. Depression departs. Joy returns. Laughter is found again. Physical healing can even occur.
Decades of research and centuries of religious teaching support that forgiveness can help adults, adolescents, and children heal upsets and trauma of the past and enjoy better mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
In careful scientific studies, forgiveness training has been shown to:
- reduce depression and increase hopefulness,
- decrease anger & anxiety,
- heal relationships,
- increase emotional self-confidence,
- improve compassion,
- increase personal growth, and
- improve quality of life.
Studies reveal:
- Failure to forgive may be more important than hostility as a risk factor for heart disease.
- Even people with devastating losses can learn to forgive and feel better psychologically and emotionally.
Study adapted from Dr. Fredric Luskin’s highly acclaimed book: Forgive For Good, Harper San Francisco,
We have found this mind transformation through forgiving to be consistently true in the Foundation’s 20 years of work in forgiveness by doing individual and group Forgiveness Therapy and training and from our own life experience.
We can observe that when the bitterness, grudges, and resentments of the past are let go, life energy becomes much more available to that person. How much life energy increases depends on how much energy had been put into holding resentments and bitterness.
People who say they have done complete forgiveness of all the people and situations in their lives have much love, peace, and joy. While this is not an easy state of mind to maintain, the payoff is great.
Some have deeply religious experiences after their forgiveness and reconciliation experience and say they have a deeper understanding of life and love. Their relationships with people, in general, get better, and their friendships deepen. They are less stressed and angered by daily personal and world events. They find it easier to get over upsets. Forgiveness has tremendous potential.