Global Forgiveness Day… A day where we remember to start looking forward

Stop holding onto that grudge and forgive the people in your life who have wronged you.

Today is July 7, 2022, which is also known as Global Forgiveness Day. It acts as a reminder that forgiveness is a virtue and is very important.

Yes, when a lot of people think about forgiveness, they think about religions, and while most religions do teach the art and importance of forgiveness, it is not the only place you will find forgiveness throughout history. You can find forgiveness from war and prison, and you can even find it on the schoolyard.

All in all, forgiveness has many benefits, and there is a lot of good that can come of it.

There are many reasons why people might be mad at someone or why they are upset with them – from family rifts to friends fighting – but there are also many reasons why you should always try to find it in your heart to forgive people, no matter how hard it is for you and even if the people on the other side do not accept your forgiveness.

What are some of these benefits?

Forgiveness leads to healthier relationships

Forgiveness improves mental health (for both parties)

Forgiveness leads to lowered anxiety, stress and hostility

Forgiveness lowers your blood pressure

Forgiveness can decrease your depression

Forgiveness can strengthen your immune system

Forgiveness can improve heart health

Forgiveness boosts your self-esteem

There are so many more benefits on top of these few that I just mentioned, but even just knowing these helps to show that the benefits of forgiveness far outweigh the “benefits” of unforgiveness.

Even though you might not want to, just the simple act of saying, “I’m sorry” can go a long way, not just in your own life but in the life of the person you have wronged or who has wronged you.

Holding a grudge may seem like it is worth it to prove a point, but it is pointless because all it does is stress you out and spike your blood pressure. You are solving nothing and honestly can cause more problems in other friendships and relationships, as the people you hang out with may not understand why you are holding such a grudge with someone.

Having a hardened heart toward someone does nothing more than make the other person feel less than and like they cannot do anything to earn your trust back. You will harp on whatever happened that caused your heart to harden, and you will just cause yourself unnecessary stress.

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Look, at the end of the day, we may all feel we have a good reason to not forgive someone, but not forgiving someone is not worth it. People all deserve a second chance, and if you gave them a second chance – or even a third chance – then it is probably time to just forgive and move on.

If the other person does the same thing or does not accept your apology or forgiveness, at least you are not the one holding onto bitterness in your heart. You were the “bigger man” as they say, and you can look back at the end of the day and say to yourself, “I did everything I could. I forgave them, and now it’s time to look forward.”

So, stop dwelling on the past, reach out to the person who wronged you and tell them, “What’s past is past.” After all, Global Forgiveness Day does warrant you to forgive others.