The Healing Power of Redemption

Forgiveness is freeing yourself from the pain of the past. It does not mean that past transgressions are acceptable.  It means that you are making things right and releasing yourself from the negative emotions associated with an action, event or an attitude. Holding on to the pain allows the past to continue to hurt you.  Self-forgiveness is essential because guilt from past actions is destructive to the mind, body and spirit.

Many people believe that if they have done something bad, that makes them a bad person. This confuses the doer with the action. At the same time that you have done something wrong, you were also capable of doing other things right.  This means that past transgressions do not have to define you.  Think about what motivated you to behave the way you did.  Have you been abused yourself? What sorrows, fears and insecurities motivated your behavior?  Guilt over the past continues to steal your personal power and prevents you from being the person you could be.  Repenting does not mean that you are relieved of being accountable for your actions.  It means that you are taking responsibility and doing what you can to make it right.  Truly repenting offers you a sense of peace, a certainty of purpose, a sense of worth and an appreciation of others.

Continual reliving of the pain of past actions contributes to depression, anxiety, anger, substance abuse, weight gain, suicidal tendencies and other difficulties.  This self-destructiveness affects your relationships and thus causes even more stress for yourself and those you come into contact with.  In order to cleanse yourself of the wrongs of the past, it is imperative to make amends, when possible, to those you have hurt.  Many cultures and religions require additional penance and sacrifice in order to absolve the penitent and to wipe the slate clean.  Past mistakes do not have to condemn one to a life of guilt and misery.  We need to learn from our mistakes, fix them when we can, and accept the just consequences.  When this is done, we can put them in the past and move on.

True repentance and true forgiveness bring about seemingly magical transformations.  Research has shown that those who were once burdened, consumed and obsessed will enjoy a wealth of positive changes.

Physical / Health
Those who experience forgiveness undergo a physical, chemical transformation. They have been shown to display differences in facial contours.  Softening of facial lines, relaxation of musculature and release of stress lead to a changed appearance. These individuals also report a lower incidence of the following health problems:

• Heart Disease

• Cardiovascular Disease

• High Blood Pressure

• Muscle Tension

• Immune System Disorders

• Nervous System Disorders

• Physical Symptoms of Stress

• Physical Pain, including Back Pain

• Stroke

• Cancer

Depression, Anxiety & Anger
Individuals who release past guilt tend to experience less depression and anxiety symptoms.  When negative events do take place, they are able to bounce back more quickly.  In addition, they are slower to anger, and are better able to control this emotion when it does flare up. They no longer live in a state of low-level anger as may have been the case in the past.

Hopefulness
Those who successfully repent tend to report improved outlooks on their future.  They tend to see more possibilities and are able to plan accordingly. They are more likely to see setbacks as opportunities to do better and are more likely to view the world as a benevolent place.

Self-Confidence
After making things right individuals feel better able to handle life's challenges.  They feel more capable of affecting change in their lives and in their environment.

Relationships
Those who have made up for past misdeeds report improvements in their relationships.  They are better able to heal difficult relationships and are able to be more positively involved with spouses, children, parents, friends and associates. They tend to work harder to resolve conflicts and thus tend to have more satisfying relationships.

Compassion
Individuals who feel forgiven report greater compassion toward themselves and others.  They report being better able to forgive others and are more likely to try to understand another's viewpoint. 

Personal Growth
Those who successfully repent have reported that they are able to go on and do the work necessary to further their personal development.   They report improved motivation to go back to school, look for a better job, make new friends, take up hobbies or take up a meaningful cause.

Improved Quality of Life
Those who have done the work necessary to make things right with the past report a much higher level of life satisfaction.  They have more energy, higher self-esteem and feel more connected to their own spiritual beliefs.  They are less likely to be overly bothered by troubles and are optimistic about the future. These individuals report having easier access to their own talents and capabilities as well as a higher appreciation for those of others.

To have the opportunity to make things right is a precious gift. Once we understand ourselves and our actions, have done what is necessary to make amends and accept our consequences, we can be free. Mistakes, when learned from, are the stepping stones to wisdom.