The Healing Power of Forgiveness: A Wellness Practice for the Mind, Body & Spirit

Forgiveness is often spoken about as something emotional or spiritual… but the truth is, forgiveness is deeply physical. It changes the way your body holds tension, processes emotions, and moves through the world. In wellness, we often focus on what we do — the herbs we take, the routines we follow, the foods we choose — but forgiveness is one of the most powerful practices we can offer ourselves.

Forgiveness isn’t about saying what happened was okay. It isn’t about excusing harm. It’s not about pretending you’re “fine.”

Forgiveness is about choosing peace over pressure. Choosing to release the weight you no longer need to carry. Choosing to heal parts of you that have been clenched for far too long.

When we hold onto hurt, the nervous system stays guarded—always slightly guarded. That guardedness releases stress hormones like cortisol, which over time can affect your sleep, your energy, your hormone balance, and even your digestion. Emotional tension becomes physical tension. And our body systems feel it.

But when you soften into forgiveness — slowly, gently, at your own pace — your body responds in powerful ways.

🌱 How Forgiveness Supports Your Wellness

Here are just a few of the wellness benefits that research and experience both point to:

1. Softens Stress Hormones

Holding onto anger or resentment keeps the body in a low-level “fight-or-flight” state. Forgiveness helps lower cortisol and shifts you into a calmer, more grounded state. Regulating stress hormones in turn supports estrogen-progesterone balance, mood stability, and overall wellbeing.

2. Improves Sleep Quality

A calmer nervous system rests better. People who practice forgiveness often report falling asleep faster and waking with more clarity.

3. Supports Heart & Blood Pressure Health

Letting go helps relax the cardiovascular system, reducing strain on the heart and improving circulation.

4. Boosts Immune Function

Chronic stress suppresses immunity. Forgiveness releases that internal pressure, helping the body strengthen its defenses.

5. Encourages Emotional Resilience

When you learn to release emotional weight, you build inner strength, compassion, and mental flexibility.

6. Creates Space for Growth

Forgiveness clears emotional clutter, making room for clarity, creativity, and deeper connection.

🌿 Forgiveness Isn’t One Moment — It’s a Practice

You don’t need to force forgiveness. You don’t need to rush it.

Sometimes forgiveness is simply saying:

“I am no longer carrying this with me today.”

Some days you’ll feel that release fully. Other days, the old weight may creep back in — and that’s okay.

Every time you choose forgive you soften, your nervous system, heart, and your body shifts a little more toward healing.

A Gentle Forgiveness Ritual for Today

Try this simple three-step practice:

Breathe deeply into your heart space.

Name what you’re ready to release — even if it’s just 1% of the weight.

Speak a releasing phrase, such as:

“I forgive you. I release this. I choose peace.”

or

“I free myself from this burden.” (name the burden)

Repeat as many times as your body needs.

I like to visualize placing the matter upon a hearth for God to take.

Forgiveness as a Wellness Lifestyle

When we talk about “living life wisely,” forgiveness is one of the most grounding practices we can weave into our rhythms.

It keeps your heart open.

Your energy softer.

Your hormones calmer.

Your mind clearer.

Your spirit lighter.

Forgiveness isn’t a gift to someone else — it’s a gift to you.

So on this Forgiveness Friday, I invite you to release even a small piece of what no longer serves you.

Your mind, body, and spirit will feel the shift.

Release and forgive to become more in flow with your true self.

This practice will help you F.E.E.L. (free energy exuding light) again!

Many blessings,

Kat