June 2023, By Jane Perkins, MS, LCPC, LPC
The power of forgiveness and how it can improve mental health, reduce stress, and heal relationships. Learn techniques for forgiving.
The Power of Forgiveness: Improve Your Mental Health.
Forgiveness isn’t just okay. It’s powerful. Believe it or not, it does make you feel better. That is a huge benefit of forgiveness. Forgiving helps your mind and emotions by taking away stress. Some people think forgiveness means you agree with bad things. That’s wrong. Forgiveness sets you free. It gets rid of bad feelings and stops you from holding grudges. If you hold grudges, you hurt yourself. You get anxious, sad, and stressed. Forgiveness makes you strong. It helps you feel calm. Those are just some of the powers of forgiveness!
Hurt drains your energy and affects sleep, eating, and relationships. Unforgiveness leads to powerlessness, shame, loneliness, and damage to future relationships. Studies link unforgiveness to poor health. Anger increases stress. Resentment suppresses immunity and raises the risk of heart disease. Letting go helps. It improves your mind and body.
Forgiveness Benefits Mental Health.
Forgiveness offers significant benefits for mental health, acting as a powerful tool for emotional and psychological well-being. As you mentioned, it can lead to several positive outcomes. In essence, forgiveness is not just a gift you give to others; it’s a powerful gift you give to yourself, significantly contributing to your overall mental health and emotional well-being.
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Less Stress: Holding onto anger makes your body stressed. Forgiveness can stop this. You will feel calmer. Studies say people who forgive feel less stress.
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Better Friendships: Forgiveness helps you stay friends with people. It lets you get over being hurt or fighting. You can understand others better. You can talk more easily. You can trust again. If you don’t forgive, your friendships can have problems. They might even end.
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Happier Feelings: When you let go of anger, you let go of bad feelings. These bad feelings can make you sad. Forgiveness helps you heal inside. You start to feel more happy things, like kindness and love. You feel better overall.
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Less Worry and Sadness: Being angry can make you worry a lot. It can also make you feel sad. Forgiveness helps you let go of these feelings. You might not feel so worried or so miserable. Studies show that people who forgive have better minds. They don’t feel as anxious or sad.
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Peace Inside: In the end, forgiveness is about letting go of anger. Anger can make you feel tired and tire your mind and your body. When you choose to forgive, you can feel very peaceful inside. This lets you move on with your life. You won’t be stuck in the past.
Learn How to Forgive.
- Choose to forgive. It’s your decision, and you don’t need an apology. Forgiveness starts healing, even if some pain remains. Jesus said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
- Reflect honestly. Understand your pain, anger, and betrayal. Accepting these feelings is key. Try to see the situation from different angles. “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
- Pray for strength to let go of anger. Ask God for compassion, as He forgives us. Forgiveness is hard without His help.
- Set boundaries. Forgiving doesn’t mean you agree with what happened. Protect yourself with healthy limits for everyone.
- Be grateful. Focusing on the good can change your perspective and bring peace.
- Allow time to heal. Be patient with yourself and trust God’s prese
- Ask for Help. If forgiving is hard, talk to someone. Talk to a counselor, a pastor, or a good friend.
Forgiveness is Powerful – and it’s a Journey.
Forgiveness unfolds with patience and through God’s grace. Begin by releasing your hold on grudges. Open your heart to empathy. As you do, you will discover the profound power within forgiveness. While challenging, the effort yields immeasurable benefits. Seek God’s wisdom and strength. A Christian counselor can offer valuable guidance on God’s way on this journey.
Seek Mental Health Support.
If you’re seeking mental health support that integrates Biblical principles, contact Jane Perkins, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor at Are You Ready Counseling, LLC.
Visit www.areyoureadycounseling.com to learn more, or book a Free 20-minute consultation to ask questions and see how Biblical counseling can help you.
Reading the Bible daily is a great way to grow in your faith and improve your mental health.
Daily Bible reading for mental health fosters faith and improves overall well-being. Integrating faith and mental health can help you find lasting peace and strength. If you are looking for faith-based mental health support, reach out to a professional who can help you understand Bible verses for anxiety relief, depression, grief and loss, and OCD.
Visit www.areyoureadycounseling.com to learn more, or book a Free 20-minute consultation to ask questions and see how Biblical counseling can help you.
Online Counseling Works
Online counseling, also called therapy online, has many good things compared to seeing a therapist in person. Here are some of the main ways it helps:
Easy to Get To:
- No Matter Where You Live: You can talk to a therapist online even if you live far away.
- More Choices for Experts: You don’t have to pick a therapist near you. You can find someone who really knows about your problems, even if they live in another state.
Makes Things Simple:
- Saves You Time: You don’t have to drive to appointments, so it’s easier to fit therapy into your day. You don’t need to miss work or find someone to watch your kids so you can travel.
- Easy to Schedule: Many online therapists have appointments at different times, like evenings and weekends. This makes it easier to find a time that works for you.
- Comfort of Your Own Home: Talking to a therapist from a place where you feel safe and comfortable can help you relax and be more open during your sessions.
Different Ways to Talk:
- You Have Options: Online therapy lets you talk to your therapist via video, phone, or messages. You can pick the way that makes you feel most comfortable.
It Works Well:
- Just as Good as Seeing Someone in Person: Studies show that online therapy can help with feelings like anxiety, sadness, or stress as well as going to a therapist’s office.
- People Go More Often: Because online therapy is easy, people might visit their appointments more regularly and finish their therapy.
Visit www.areyoureadycounseling.com to learn more, or book a Free 20-minute consultation to ask questions and see how Biblical counseling can help you.
