Forgiveness is a fascinating concept, truly one of the cornerstones of mental and spiritual health. Forgiveness is indeed and the very heart of the Christian faith, but is also, I believe at the heart of healthy relationships…most especially the relationship with have with ourselves. There are numerous positive mental and physical effects of forgiveness. The research is clear: holding onto bitterness keeps you in a chronic state of fight or flight, which increases the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, insomnia, depression, and decreased immune system response. Forgiving others activates the part of your nervous system responsible for calming stress and it helps our bodies operate more fluidly. When we choose NOT to forgive, our past bleeds over repeatedly into our present— and we are never truly free.
