Why Is Forgiving Healthy? Here Are 5 Reasons

Illustration of giving forgiveness (Unsplash / Lina Troches)

JAKARTA - Forgiveness is not an easy matter. It even takes a long time to reconnect with someone who has hurt feelings. Well, based on studies from several experts, it turns out that the effect of forgiveness is not trivial.

Forgiveness, according to Karen Swartz, MD, director of The Mood Diorders Adult Consultation Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital, it's really hard, especially after being hurt and disappointed. In a chronically angry emotional state, fight-or-flight mode results in many changes to health.

If forgiveness is healthier

Fight-or-flight mode affects heart rate, blood pressure, and immune response. Reporting from Johns Hopkins Medicine, Friday, April 16, forgiveness can reduce tension, especially stress and lead to improved health.

Feel more empathetic

Forgiveness is not just about saying the word 'sorry'. According to Swartz, forgiveness is an active process in which a person makes a conscious decision to let go of negative feelings whether the person deserves forgiveness or not.

When you start letting go of resentment and anger, empathy and compassion will be felt more afterward.

Enjoy life more

Research has found that people who are naturally more forgiving tend to be more satisfied with their lives. They are further away from the risk of depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and hostility.

Conversely, people who hold grudges are more likely to experience major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical health problems.

Understand more about 'no one is perfect'

This understanding provides powerful reflection. One does not need to position oneself as victim to forgive, knowing that 'nobody is perfect'.

That means the mistakes and mistakes of others that upset you, not because you are the victim but because no one is perfect.

Expectations do not exceed one's abilities

Have an expectation that the person who hurt you will apologize or change behavior and even change the past? This is what makes forgiveness hard.

If you're still expecting it, then really don't really forgive. Forgiving without being accompanied by expectations can keep you from feeling disappointed.