The Healing Power of Forgiveness

From The Wall Street Journal-

To forgive, or not to forgive? It is a question that we ask ourselves more, and that becomes more salient, as years pass.

As we grow older, it is “very, very common to review your life,” says Berit Ingersoll-Dayton, professor and director of the joint doctoral program in social work and social science at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. It’s a process that inevitably will bring up “things that we feel good about—and that we don’t.”

In the absence of forgiveness, an offense that was committed against us, or some pain that we caused others, can replay in our minds, causing continuing anger or remorse that is often a recipe for bitterness and bad health. A wealth of research has linked the isolation and loneliness that can result to increased health problems and higher mortality.

More here-

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-healing-power-of-forgiveness-1458525864