The healing power of forgiveness
By: Marissa Pollet
Forgiveness is one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself. The act of true forgiveness is not about them, it’s about you. It’s about freeing yourself from the emotional weight of anger, resentment, and pain. Forgiveness is an active decision to release negative emotions, and in doing so, it plays a role in supporting your mental health and overall emotional resilience.
What Does It Mean to Forgive?
Forgiveness is not forgetting or excusing harmful actions, but rather the conscious choice to release feelings of vengeance or bitterness toward someone who has wronged you. It doesn’t mean you automatically will reconcile or establish trust but more an emphasis on promoting internal healing and peace of mind. When you choose to forgive you can focus on statements of healing which can look like “I no longer want to carry this burden” or “I chose to let go in this moment so I can move forward for me”.
How Forgiveness Heals the Mind
Forgiveness is healing. Chronic anger and resentment can lead to mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and difficulty managing relationships. By forgiving, we reclaim control over our emotional state. We take control over our emotional chains and chose to move forward. By taking this step, your healing can begin and the weight that you have carried starts to feel less.
Therapeutic benefits of forgiveness include:
• Reduced stress and anxiety: Letting go of anger decreases cortisol levels, improving both mental and physical health.
• Improved mood and self-esteem: Forgiveness fosters compassion, which naturally lifts mood and reduces symptoms of depression.
• Better relationships: By forgiving, we break cycles of hurt, enabling healthier communication and boundaries.
• Increased inner peace: Releasing resentment creates emotional space for gratitude, empathy, and peace of mind. Once filled with emotional turmoil, the mind now has space for internal peace.
The Process of Letting Go
Forgiveness is a journey, not a one-time decision. Here are some steps to help guide the process:
1. Acknowledge the Hurt
You can't forgive what you haven't faced. Reflect honestly on what happened and how it made you feel. Journal your emotions or talk to a trusted friend or therapist. Deep seeded hurt has many layers that can be overwhelming to unpack on your own. As you peel back these layers learning to reflect and acknowledge your feelings will help promote a journey of healing.
2. Understand the Impact
Recognize how holding onto pain has affected your mental and emotional health. Ask yourself: Is this pain serving me? “What am I gaining from allowing this to consume my life?”
3. Shift the Perspective
Try to see the situation from a broader view. This doesn’t excuse behavior, but understanding someone’s limitations or background can offer insight and soften the intensity of anger. When you shift your perspective as hard as that may sound, it opens your eyes to a different viewpoint.
4. Decide to Forgive
Forgiveness is a choice, often repeated over time. Say it aloud or write it down: "I choose to forgive, not because they deserve it, but because I deserve peace." Working through this journey alone can be challenging. Lean on others or a therapist to help navigate the healing process as you unravel feelings of hurt and resentment.
Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean Weakness
Choosing to forgive doesn’t make you weak or naive. It shows strength to process your pain, confront it head-on, and then release it. Forgiveness is not about giving someone else a clean slate, it’s about freeing yourself from carrying their burden. It’s about choosing yourself and deciding to let go of what has been weighing you down.
Learning to Let Go
Forgiveness is a beautiful act of self-care. It can help you find clarity and free up space for peace and joy. When you forgive others, you’re not saying what happened was okay. You’re saying that your mental health, your peace, and your future are more important than holding onto that pain. You are deciding that your mental well – being comes first over the hurt and pain that you have held onto for so long. So, when you’re ready, be gentle with yourself and this process and let go!
Our team of caring professionals at Inspired Wellness are here to provide support and guidance towards your path of mental wellness. We believe that every individual has the ability to be the best version of themselves and our goal is to set you up with the tools to maintain a well-balanced life that will place you on the path towards lifelong change. We strive to create a non-judgmental environment coupled with therapeutic practices that are tailored towards each individual. At Inspired Wellness our team aims to do exactly as our name says, inspire you towards a beautiful life of strength and wellness!