Everyone in life has been wronged at some point. We all have been affected negatively because of the actions of someone else, whether they intentionally did it. The feeling of suffering because of someone else’s mistake isn’t a good one. These feelings often turn into anger and hatred. There are far more benefits to forgiving others than holding onto hatred. (I am not saying that one shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions. I am not saying that one shouldn’t be disciplined for their actions. I am not saying that you should forget about what they have done and still blindly trust them.) I am merely stating that you should drop your anger or resentment toward them and move on with your life. Here are the top benefits of harnessing the power of forgiveness.
Physical Health
Prolonged anger can have negative effects on the body that might become fatal. If you are young and physically healthy, the effects will probably take time to have an effect, but even then you run the risk of developing a sickness. Studies have shown that prolonged anger can weaken your immune system, making your body more susceptible to diseases. Anger causes an antibody called immunoglobulin A to drop. Your body manufactures immunoglobulin A to fight off sicknesses. Anger interferes with this manufacturing process.
People that are older and have health problems are most at risk for developing sicknesses associated with anger. People with anger problems are twice as likely to have a heart attack. Anger increases the risk of having a stroke three times. Studies were done, and these statistics were the outcome. Each of these conditions is potentially fatal. Venting or redirecting anger can certainly prolong one’s life.
The Connection Between Anger and Depression
There are a few emotions that are linked to depression. Some people believe that depression and sadness are interchangeable terms. The terms are in completely different categories. Sadness is an emotion. Depression is a mental health disorder that can be diagnosed. Depression is a combination of symptoms ranging from self doubt, hopelessness, struggling to find entertainment in fun activities, self isolation, and trouble sleeping. Sadness can be a result of depression, but it is important to know that the terms are synonyms.
Another emotion that is a possible result of depression is anger. In fact, anger and depression are closely linked. Like sadness, anger is an emotion. Anger isn’t a diagnosable mental disorder. This doesn’t mean that anger and depression don’t have a connection. Everyone gets angry at some point in their lives. It is a waste of time to attempt to escape the emotion. Even though anger is a negative frequency, anger can be tuned to a more positive frequency or redirected into uplifting actions. Anger is only a problem when the frequency isn’t changed or redirected.
Depression can lead to being angry at others or even yourself. Because of depression, you might discover that you are irritable and hostile toward your friends, family, or maybe even yourself. One way to combat this depression-fueled anger is by forgiving yourself. If you are angry at yourself because you failed at something in life, did a negative deed, or made a mistake that affects others, it is important that you forgive yourself. It is important to know that you can’t change the past.
The past is set in stone. You moved past that time period and time will continue to move forward, unapologetically. The only thing that you can do is craft the future that you want to live in. Looking in the mirror and forgiving yourself softens or might even eliminate some symptoms of depression. Forgiving yourself and focusing on the present will deliver a blow against the fight of depression.
Focusing on goals
There is no time period that is more important than the present moment. The past already happened. The past is set in stone and can’t be changed. We can’t skip years ahead into the future. All we can do is travel through time, second by second. The good news is that we can take advantage of the present. If you use your time wisely, you can craft the future that you dream of.
Refusing to forgive can distract you from utilizing your time efficiently. Allowing anger to consume you is like dead weight holding your mind back. Without forgiveness, you’ll find your mind wandering back to the source of anger. It’ll become difficult for you to focus on accomplishing your goals because you’ll lack a clear mind. Instead of working toward your goals, you’ll be thinking of something that happened in the past.
Unfortunately, you can’t change what happened. The only way to clear your mind and move forward is to harness the power of forgiveness. This statement isn’t as easy as it seems, however, it’ll allow you to move forward. You’ll find that staying focused on your task is much easier when your mind isn’t crowded. The empty space in your mind will be filled with the thoughts of your next steps.
The Connection Between Anger and Anxiety
Based on the data collected from the National Comorbidity Survey, approximately 31.1 percent of adults in the United States will go through some form of anxiety in their lives. Anxiety is an intense feeling of worry, unease, or nervousness. Anxiety usually stems from something with an uncertain outcome. There are various levels of anxiety. Some people only have anxiety for a few days until they discover the outcome of the uncertain situation. Others can have anxiety attacks that they suffer from for years and may even have to be sent to the hospital. Either way, anxiety is something that you should avoid at all costs.
The backbone of anxiety is thinking of an event or situation other than the present. Thinking about a negative action that someone has done to you or how that negative action will affect your future is a waste of time. It’ll tune the frequency of your emotions to the frequency of anger. This can lead your mind to worrying about the future, paving the way for an anxiety attack. Psychologists say that anxiety and anger both come from a lack of control. In certain situations, anger can become anxiety, or anxiety can become anger.
Anger and anxiety share similar health effects. They both lead to trouble sleeping, high blood pressure, headaches, and overtime heart disease and heart attacks. It isn’t worth getting sick because of the actions of others. I’m not saying to forget about what they did. I’m not saying to trust them in the future. I’m merely saying that you should forgive them and not think of them at all. Focus on yourself. Focus on the present. Do what you have to do in the present, so that you can accomplish what you want in the future.
False Sense of Destiny
When things outside of our control set us back, it is easy to feel powerless. Suffering from the results of the actions of others is not a good feeling and can make one feel like giving up. It is easy to feel bitter and angry. Many people will hold on to their rage and use the situation as a scapegoat for their failure. This type of thinking is nothing more than an illusion. The truth is that your destiny is always in your hands, no matter the situation.
No one other than yourself can make you stop fighting for your goals. Even if you have a crowd of a million people cheering for your downfall, it is up to you to give up. There is no guarantee that you’ll reach your goal when you want to. You may not even accomplish it at all. There are very few things guaranteed in life. One thing that is guaranteed is that you can make your own decisions. You have full control over the choices that you make. No matter what anyone does, no one can change that. The best thing to do is forgive them and focus on your goals.
As you can see, failing to harness the power of forgiveness can have some detrimental consequences in one’s life. It can lead to multiple problems that can lower the quality of one’s life. While it might seem difficult to utilize forgiveness, it isn’t impossible. There are various tips to help someone forgive others for what they did in the past.
“Any Anxiety Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder. Accessed 20 July 2023.
Stanborough, Rebecca Joy. “Anxiety and Anger: Exploring the Connection.” Healthline, 9 July 2020, www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-and-anger.