The Benefits of Forgiveness

We already discussed that forgiveness is the mindful and deliberate decision to let go of hurt, anger, resentment or vengeance towards another, irrespective of whether they deserve it or not. It the letting go of lingering anger or past grudge against someone or a group of people. We also discussed the issues hindering us form forgiving those who have wronged us. Please my previous blog if you are yet to because it will not only lead you through the path of forgiveness, it will also give you a deep insight of what we will be discussing today.

Sometime ago, I had a friend who was deeply hurt by her spouse; he did not only cheat on her, he also put another lady who was old to be his daughter in the family. It was quite a painful experience as she got to know of this as she was surfing the social media. The side piece had a ‘ gender reveal’ party where the sex of the child she was carrying was revealed and she posted it on Instagram. This a  man that was ordained as Deacon in his church, someone who others were seeing as a role model, always advocating and preaching for peace in the marriage. My friend had a happy marriage or so she thought. To top it she got sick and found she had been infected with HIV by her husband who knew of his status long before that time. It was a tough and difficult period for her, before long she was out of the marriage, but she nursed deep hatred and resentment towards her husband. And her anger nearly drove her to the point of death. She had a good support system who did not give up on her. She realized that until she let go, she did not have the inner peace and healing that she deserved. Today, she is not only healthy, but also happily married and one of the top career women in Nigeria.

The fact is, until you let go of the pain, hatred, hurt and resentment, you will not have the peace you truly deserve. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting or overlooking the wrong done to you. It does not also mean making up with the persons or people that hurt you, it means forgiving yourself first, getting healed, letting go and focusing on yourself so you would get self-fulfillment.

There are many encouraging benefits of forgiveness and they include, improved mental health, inner peace of mind, clarity of thoughts, less stress, anxiety and fewer negative emotions, improved self-esteem, self-fulfillment, healthier relationships, less risk of depression, enhanced immune system, better sense of wellbeing etc. it cannot be overemphasized. Forgiveness matters a lot and it makes life worth living, if you do not forgive, you give the other person right over your happiness and your peace of mind.

Forgiveness is just like a breath of fresh air that gives life to every part of your body. It rejuvenates evry part of your body and makes you see every reason to live and let live. It is a choice you need to make despite the fact that the offending party does not deserve it. It takes constant practice because time will come again and again when you will remember the ill done to you, but as you become better at forgiving,  you will find it easy to let go.

Forgiveness is a choice; it is your if you want to forgive those who wronged you or not even when they have not asked for your forgiveness. By opting to forgive, you take charge of your pain instead of it controlling you. Has someone wronged, has resentment eating deep into you that all you feel is anger? Please forgive and let it go for your own peace and your mental health.

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