Forgiveness is your superpower!

When I first looked into the aspect of the benefits of forgiveness… I had no idea what I was getting into. What if I told you, being forgiving can make you have a happier and healthier life? Sounds pretty simple? Or maybe not for some of us. I get it. Easier said than done.

If something as simple as being forgiving gives you a healthier mentality AND physical health, it’s worth a shot. Chances are if you clicked on this blog, you’re looking for things that will improve your wellness and overall health. Being forgiving is definitely a step in that direction.

If you need a way to improve your personal relationships… being more forgiving is the answer. Whether it’s a relationship with a friend, sibling, significant other, or parent, being forgiving can help improve the relationship. Experts say that forgiving someone can not only help yourself, but it actually improves how that person acts towards you. Think about it this way… if you are having an argument with a co-worker, do you think it is better to let it fester and build up, or is it better for one of you to apologize and present the opportunity to move on from it? Now, I’m not saying you have to be best friends with the person, but it will improve your mental clarity to forgive and release any grudges you may be holding.

Don’t let negative energy hold you back!

The simple act of forgiving someone gives you control of the negativity in your life! Going back to the co-worker example.. wouldn’t you much rather look forward to going into a positive work environment, than one that brings you down due to the people/person? It is so much more rewarding to spend your time figuring out how to forgive someone, then spending negative energy on how to get revenge.

Experts even say that forgiving in relationships can bring back peace and harmony. A relationship can be restored with more forgiveness and less resentment. Again, in some cases, easier said than done!

Here are some ways to practice being more forgiving:

* Forget about blame and think more towards compassion about your offender.

* Think about the long term outcome and if it is really worth adding negative energy to your life.

* Go to the root of the problem and really try to understand yourself first, and why you are upset.

* Try to be more compassionate… put yourself in the person’s shoes.

* Think about the dream version of you, do you picture that person happy, or negative? Chances are you picture him/her happy… so aim for that goal every single day.

As far as physical benefits, being forgiving can put you at a lesser risk of having high blood pressure, due to being less stressed about the negative aspects of your life. It has been found that unforgiving people have an increased risk of disease and impaired immune responses.

My advice to you is to take a deep breath and really think about the next time you become frustrated with someone. Is it really worth holding a grudge? Being more forgiving can make you happier AND healthier so why not give it a shot?

Xoxo Hailey