Writing Practice Prescription

Forgiveness. Is it a health problem? A growing body of research emerging the past two decades indicate that forgiveness possesses the power to restore well-being and promote healing. The concept of forgiveness as a healing endeavor is not new: worldwide philosophical and spiritual traditions have long promoted forgiveness for inner peace and well-being.

What the medical research now contributes is the fact that it seems as though just imagining yourself as granting forgiveness may lower your blood pressure, decrease your heart rate, and produce skin conductance changes–all physiological signs of improving your health. Best of all, your mood can improve when you focus on forgiving. This is helpful for a number of conditions ranging from anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and chronic pain. (1)

If you have dropped in on this blog in the past, then it should come as no surprise to you that I endorse expressive WellWriting to promote well-being and health. As I have continued the work of writing for healing (WellWriting), it has become apparent to me that hanging onto anger, old hurts, and resentment contribute considerably to many chronic health and pain syndromes. The answer? Forgive to live and for the health of it.

Forgiveness is a learned skill and very much a process. My current work is a book in the making. If you have a story of forgiving and then being better and want to share that story, please add a comment to this blog entry.

Meanwhile, a number of books exist to address the issue of forgiveness. To browse a few, click here.

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(1) Source: Integrative Medicine: Text with BONUS PocketConsult Handheld Software (Rakel, Integrative Medicine)