In today’s world, the act of forgiveness is often associated with weakness or defeat. A strong personality, many believe, defends their innocence to the end. It is easier for people to be angry, curse, and avoid offenders than understand and forgive them. Recently, however, more and more scientific evidence has emerged which underline that forgiving is not just a manifestation of nobility but a valuable practical skill that affects people’s physical and mental health (VanderWeele, 2018). The one who forgives does well not only for the other person but also for their own body.
Thus, I realized that forgiveness is an essential stage in the relationship with the external and internal world. This stage is necessary to relieve anxiety and stress and strengthen emotional stability. I will definitely be more conscious and attentive to the topic of forgiveness, not only from the position of the offended but also from my attitude towards people. To be comfortable with building trusting relationships with me, it is vital that a person can easily receive an apology and forgiveness from me.
Active forgiveness, meanwhile, transcends obsessive resentment and negative feelings, making it difficult for many people to achieve. Because our emotional world is so complex, it is nearly impossible to change how we feel overnight. Therefore, active forgiveness, which includes compassion for the abuser and acceptance of their actions, often takes time and effort. However, by reaching this state, people make their lives happier and acquire greater emotional awareness and awareness of human imperfection. Thus, when interacting with other people, one’s first reaction is not pulling away but instead allowing the connection.
Of course, the concept of forgiveness is essential in my work to help people find causes of anxiety and build happier and more trusting relationships with those around them. To be honest, it is still difficult for me to define the boundaries between active forgiveness and naive self-sacrifice. I understand that when you forgive, you don’t have to leave the abuser in your life. However, in practice, communication with such a person is often challenging to build in a non-toxic way.
Reference
VanderWeele, T. J. (2018). Is forgiveness a public health issue? American Journal of Public Health, 108(2), 189–190. Web.