(Healing Power of Forgiveness continued):
Research provides clear evidence that forgiveness is a powerful tool to help us recover from abuse, bereavement, trauma, addiction, abortion, divorce, and other losses. It enables us to tap into powerful spiritual resources that foster our healing.
As a former nurse, I find it interesting that the Cancer Treatment Centers of America are now using forgiveness therapy as an integral part of their cancer treatment.
Studies have verified the positive power of forgiveness on our well-being. For instance, people who forgive are more likely to enjoy lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and a drop in the stress hormones circulating in their blood. Their back pain, stomach problems, and headaches may disappear. They report reduced anger, anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms; higher self-esteem; and more hopefulness about their future.
Forgiveness is a decision we can make! We can choose to forgive—to dismiss, to cut off— the debt created by the one who hurt us. As Christians, we can do this because we say that the blood of Christ was enough payment for that debt and we do not have to extract it from them.
In my book, “I Forgive You: How Heart-Based Forgiveness Sets You Free” I help readers take the pathway of forgiving their offenders: by identifying what that offender did or did not do, the price they have paid because of the offense, and how that offense made them feel.
To learn how to take these steps of forgiveness, see my blog post: http://judithdoctor.com/how-to-forgive-people-who-hurt-you/