How much are we willing to forgive?

“A new study from Duke University Medical Center demonstrates that among people who have chronic back pain, those who have forgiven others experience lower levels of pain and less associated psychological problems like anger and depression that those who have not forgiven” - EurekAlert

We all know the effects of psychological reactions to physical problems, however no one understands to what extent can they actually influence in the recovery of a patient.

Forgiveness is such a difficult emotion to recognize. I am not talking about the rage and hatred you may feel, even externally, when you remember someone that has hurt you. Forgiveness also involves those lost memories in the back of your conscious mind that makes you react to situations in a way that would alter your normal reactions.

Forgiveness to others, forgiveness to God… and the hardest of all… to forgive yourself.

Forgive yourself from mistakes made, from decisions taken, from words said, from things you didn’t say, for things you said to much, for trusting too much, from not trusting enough… so many things we constantly blame on ourselves… that are hurting us even more than the consequences of the “act” itself.

It’s a tough call and not an easy thing to change, but certainly something that could change our reactions towards events in life.