FORGIVENESS

ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS TO FORGIVING SOMEONE THAT HAS WRONGED YOU?

The benefits of forgiveness, however, are most significant for the individual who has been transgressed, rather than the transgressor. 

Failing to forgive, or unforgiveness, is the practice of engaging in reflective thoughts of anger, vengeance, hate, and resentment that have unproductive outcomes for the ruminator, such as increased anxiety, depression, elevated blood pressure, vascular resistance, decreased immune response, and worse outcomes in coronary artery disease. 

Practicing forgiveness enables the transgressed individual to reduce their engagement in chewing the cud, thus reducing their experience of anger, resentment, and hate. 

Forgiveness, then, is a pathway to psychological well-being and health outcomes..