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Forgive, It’s A Gift To Yourself
Forgiveness is a hard.
When someone offends us, the last thing on our minds is forgiveness. If we have our way, we want to get back at them.
Revenge is wired into our biology.
Our ancestors faced serious threats and the ability to defend themselves and seek retribution played a key role in their survival.
Research has shown that revenge or the desire to retaliate against someone who wronged us, activates the brain’s reward center and have the same effect as sex or chocolate. This makes it feel sweet and rewarding in the moment.
That’s why forgiveness is a choice.
It’s something you deliberately decide to do. And guess what, we’ve developed higher cognitive abilities to reason, reflect, and choose how we respond to our emotions.
Choosing forgiveness has the potential to heal wounds, mend relationships, and elevate our human spirit.
A Mother’s Unimaginable Act of Forgiveness
One of the most poignant tales of forgiveness comes from Mary Johnson, a woman who chose compassion and forgiveness over revenge.
On February 12, 1993, Mary’s only son, 20-year-old Laramiun Byrd, was murdered in a dispute at a party by a 16 year old Oshea Israel.
