Our loved ones hold a special place in our hearts.
When they hurt you with their words or actions, it's easy to be filled with bitterness, anger, and resentment toward them.
This would definitely put a strain on your relationship with them.
Whatever strained relationship you have with your loved ones, you have a choice to forgive them.
Forgiving loved ones has numerous benefits.
It fosters reconciliation and gives room to develop a healthy relationship.
The benefits of forgiving loved ones also include helping you to let go of the hurt and bitterness you must have felt towards them.
Forgiveness also helps you to release anxiety and stress.
It has immense health benefits.
And helps you to grow as an individual. Here are 5 benefits of forgiving loved ones.
One of the benefits of forgiving loved ones is that it opens the room for reconciliation between you.
When you've been hurt by your loved ones, your negative feelings towards them are difficult.
The awkwardness between you people, especially when there are family gatherings, puts you in an awkward situation.
For instance, your family members may not want to bring up their names during conversations with you.
They may not also want to invite either of you to family events.
At times it may be you or the other person declining an invite because you are aware you will be there.
This creates tension in the family and affects other members of your family as well.
Rather than have a relationship where everyone is walking on edge around one another, it is better for you to forgive the person.
This helps you to reconcile with each other and work towards restoring your relationship.
Note that you cannot force reconciliation.
You must be sure that the other person is open to reconciliation and committed to restoring the broken relationship.
Whichever disposition the person has to reconcile, know that forgiveness on your own part is important.
And commit yourself to treating the person with compassion and kindness.
Holding on to the hurt and bitterness you feel as a result of a broken relationship with your loved ones can be difficult.
Focusing on the pain they've caused you it makes much more difficult for you to let go.
Letting go is one of the benefits of forgiving loved ones.
It is also the best decision you can make for yourself when someone hurts you.
Holding on to the hurt will do you no good.
Letting go can also help you let go of the control the hurt and other negative emotions you feel have over you.
It is also you embracing peace, guarding your mental health, and choosing to move forward from the hurt.
One important thing you should note is that the situation that has caused you hurt amounts to a crime, letting go doesn't mean you don't report the incident to the Police.
It means you're willing to put the incident in the past and move from it.
In some cases, you have to examine yourself also to see how you have hurt the other person.
You might have done or said hurtful things, affecting your relationship with your loved one.
If that's the case, you must also forgive yourself and reach out to the person.
Nonetheless, the person is not under any obligation to accept your offer.
Forgiving yourself is the most important thing.
Recognizing how important forgiveness is to you and working towards repairing a broken relationship with your loved one helps to reduce anxiety and stress.
A strained relationship might be filled with hostility, anger, and bitterness.
For instance, the mere mention of the person's name in a discussion would trigger these emotions or make you anxious and stressed when you have to be around each other.
Being caught up with these emotions can increase your stress levels.
It would also deprive you of so many joys and pleasant memories you can share with the person.
One of the benefits of forgiving loved ones is that it reduces your stress levels and removes the anxiety you feel when you think or have to deal with the person.
Forgiving your loved ones gives room for hope, compassion, and happiness.
Improved health is one of the major benefits of forgiving loved ones.
Holding grudges is harmful to your mental and physical health.
The underlying cause of many sicknesses is unforgiveness.
When you forgive and free your heart from the hurt, bitterness, and anger you feel towards a person, your body is better for it.
Forgiving your loved ones has lasting benefits for your physical and mental health.
It lowers the risk of depression, stroke, heart attack, heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, and cancer.
The happiness you feel from improving your relationship with them also boosts your immune system, helps you to sleep better, and lowers cholesterol levels.
In general, forgiving your loved ones helps to improve your overall health.
Forgiving your loved ones when they hurt you helps you grow in many ways.
It helps your people management skills and conflict resolution skills.
This is because it increases your understanding of people, improves your relationship with others, and makes it easy for you to forgive people when they hurt you.
Growth also means that the hurt no longer has power over you.
Rather than desiring revenge, you're cool with maintaining a peaceful situation and healthy relationship.
Time wasted agonizing over your strained relationship with your loved ones can also be channeled into productive activities.
You also get to examine yourself and grow as an individual.
Irrespective of the person's disposition, whether they think they have offended you or not, it's a personal decision for you and benefits you.
Forgiveness is intentionally letting go of anger, hurt, and resentment.
Reconciliation, letting go easily, reduced anxiety and stress, improved health, and growth as an individual are all benefits of forgiving loved ones.
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-forgive#when-to-start
https://georgesjournal.net/2019/08/21/the-benefits-of-forgiveness/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/forgiveness-your-health-depends-on-it
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-benefits-of-forgiveness-3144954
https://www.wisdomtimes.com/blog/health-benefits-of-forgiveness/
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
We offer a variety of specialized services, including individual therapy, group therapy, and various therapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic therapy.
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It's important to remember that you are allowed to grieve however you need to, and that doesn't mean you have to ruin the holidays for everyone else. If you need to take a break from holiday festivities, do so. Go for a walk, take a nap, watch a movie—whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. You can also try talking to your family about your grief ahead of time and asking for their understanding and support.
There is no "right" or "wrong" answer when it comes to how long grief will last in the elderly. For some people, the grieving process may last for several months or even years. For others, it may come in waves – they may have periods of intense grief followed by periods of relative calm. It's important to remember that everyone grieves in their own way and at their own pace.
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Yes, we provide supportive counseling for family members who are struggling with the loss of a loved one. Our compassionate therapists can help you gain insight into your feelings and provide constructive strategies to cope with the pain of bereavement.
