Here is a scientific study of the power on forgiveness...this is one of many that I have found...what do you think? give me your opinions when you can.

Public release date: 7-Oct-2003
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Contact: Vicki Robb
vicki@jvrobb.com
703-329-3356
Campaign for Forgiveness

Forgiveness a factor in blood pressure
Study connects BP to race and income
Forgiveness is linked to low blood pressure and, first study connecting forgiveness and health to survey racially and socio-economically diverse individuals shows that, for low socio-economic status Blacks, forgiveness is linked to low blood pressure and low levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
The findings will be presented at the Conference on Forgiveness in Atlanta October 24-25. To register, log on to the Press Room at http://Forgiving.org.

ABSTRACT:
Physiological correlates of forgiveness: Findings from a radically and socio-economically diverse sample of community residents.

1. Interesting associations between forgiveness and physiological outcomes exist but careful attention should be paid to sample characteristics
2. Forgiveness is associated with lower resting diastolic blood pressure
3. Forgiveness is associated with lower resting diastolic blood pressure and lower levels of cortisol in black individuals of low socio-econokic status

Introduction
The study of forgiveness and health is beginning to receive attention but two limitations exist in the literature. First, the overwhelming majority of samples continue to be drawn from college student populations. There is little diversity in terms of race, socio-economic status, and gender. Second, only a few studies have attempted to examine forgiveness and physiological markers of cardiovascular and endocrine system function. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine forgiveness and blood pressure and cortisol levels in a racially and socio-economically diverse sample of community residents.

Method Participants
Quota sampling was used to recruit 98 participants from low and moderate income neighborhoods from Ypsilanti, Michigan with equal numbers of blacks and whites and males and females. Participants were 25-55 years of age (M = 40.2).

Measures
Forgiveness was assessed using a three-item forgiveness subscale of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality. This subscale contains two items assessing forgiveness of oneself and others and one item assessing feeling forgiven by God. The total score and each individual item are examined in the analyses. Physiological markers of cardiovascular and endocrine system function included: 1) resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, 2) pulse, and 3) salivary cortisol. Measures were taken once a week for three weeks.

Results and Discussion
The association between forgiveness and physiology was complex. First, forgiveness total score was associated with lower resting diastolic blood pressure in the total sample. This was due in large part to marginal associations between resting diastolic blood pressure and items tapping forgiveness of oneself and others. Second, when examining only low SES blacks, forgiveness total score and the forgiven others item were significantly associated with lower resting diastolic blood pressure and lower cortisol at moderate to large effect sizes (rs -.34 to -.56). Toussaint is Assistant Professor, Idaho State University (2001-present) Psychology Department

Hmm… yea I agree with this study. Whenever we let ourselves forgive others rather than dwelling on the internal conflict that they create within us, we are more at peace with ourselves and greatly reduce our stress. A majority of our stress is due to other people and how they effect us in negative ways. When we let ourselves just forgive them, we are greatly reducing the amount of stress that builds up in us as well as creating a more balanced and healthier life for ourselves.

well all i know is that somethings are unforgivable and thats just how it is

Everything is forgivable; however we are a species of hate and destruction and sometimes feel that it is hard to do or impossible.

ok so your telling me that if a guy came in your house chopped up your whole family with an axe that you'd forgive him huh? i doubt that

Don’t be ignorant.. I said our species finds it hard to forgive even though it is possible. (Somehow I knew you’d say that). “What if your mom is raped? What if you’re daughter is ripped apart? What if… What if???” …it doesn’t matter. It is always possible, and of course I’m human too and would find it extremely hard to do and probably couldn’t do it. Nonetheless I do know it’s possible.

And if in fact you find that harmony in your soul, you will live a happier life with less stress due to forgiveness.

Originally posted by Mouse
And if in fact you find that harmony in your soul, you will live a happier life with less stress due to forgiveness.

Who is this and what have you done with Matt Jensen?

true you are right but the thing is that people now don't forgive or don't want to cause people do some ****ed up **** to other people and in some ways i can understand it too might not always agree with it but i understand it

Originally posted by Tanner Rhoden
Who is this and what have you done with Matt Jensen?





yah this is unlike the usual matt

true you are right but the thing is that people now don't forgive or don't want to cause people do some ****ed up **** to other people and in some ways i can understand it too might not always agree with it but i understand it

Exactly, I see and agree with your point here. As the world matures, the human race only gets more violent and hostile with one another. We can aim towards “ultimate forgiveness” or “the stress-free life,” but chances lean towards the fact that we might never achieve it. It’s not our nature to be loving and forgiving. It’s our nature to seek revenge, to kill, to lie, cheat, etc… Even the Buddhists can’t achieve “ultimate” forgiveness because they are human too and still have stressful thoughts, as do every other person in the human race. It’s in our blood. All we can do is to know that it’s out there, learn about it, and get as close as we can to it. But saying that you’ll be able to forgive anybody, anytime, is just plain unrealistic. Every step closer we can take in order to achieve ultimate forgiveness, we will benefit greatly from.

yep agreed just very unlikely it will ever happen too much **** in the world for it to have a chance

David Koresh tried to do it by secluding himself and his followers away from the chaos of the world and starting over. But just like everyone else, he couldn’t escape the murderous thoughts that were implanted into his genes on the day of his birth. We can run, we can hide, but destruction and death will always be with us.

I live in a spiritual vacuum. I wished I believed in something.

yep unfortunately thats true with people's thirst for power and money it will never change

I believe that hate, grudge are extremely tiredsome feeling, honestly they physically drain you and in all honesty, when all is said and done, if one has experienced a horrible situation causing you to change from your optimistic ways into this untrusting being, wouldnt that make the person who ****ed you over screw you each and every day that you carry this situation on you like a bad scar? who are you hurting anyways if you can't move on, forgive and forget are too different things... you can only get hurt because you let it ...does that make sense here?

Interesting article Kato.

I will forward this to Arju so she can live a stress free life and let me off the hook for all my future ****ups.

Bzob, print this out and stick it on the fridge for Kato. Anytime she gets ****ty with you, point it out for her.

- J.

its true... hell I will print it out and read it to myself...lol

Originally posted by Kato
I believe that hate, grudge are extremely tiredsome feeling, honestly they physically drain you and in all honesty, when all is said and done, if one has experienced a horrible situation causing you to change from your optimistic ways into this untrusting being, wouldnt that make the person who ****ed you over screw you each and every day that you carry this situation on you like a bad scar? who are you hurting anyways if you can't move on, forgive and forget are too different things... you can only get hurt because you let it ...does that make sense here?

IT makes perfect sense. When I let go of the hatred, resentment and grudges I held against my mother and brother, I felt relieved. I could breathe and I can honestly say that it's over, it's in the past and what happens now is the future. I still don't have much to do with either one of them, but that is because I don't believe in hanging onto relationships that drag you down. To this day, my mother still lets me know how much she hates the man who raised me single handedly. They've been divorced 29 years. Time to get over it.

God i love this thread, some people in life cling on to their hate and never forgive and end up high strung because of it.

Working in a gym is pretty much like being a barmen without the booze so its pretty much people who tend to put their hearts out there...I get a lot of people who spouses left them for another leaving them and their kids behind, a lot of people here in the Motor City have been laid off permanetly because of financial situation, people that have dedicated their lives to their jobs so as you can imagine I hear a lot of **** and I dont mind at all...what I mind is the dude that comes in constantly crying about his bad upbringing and how 3 years ago his wife left him yada yada... I tell them that its ok to mourn a loss, a pain..hell even hate for a while but to move on because its unhealthy to keep justifying your current failures on past experiences and a cope out. People is like this...1) There is no such thing as the perfect parent...raising kids is hard as hell, if you are still alive and able to use your mind then you are fine, snap out of it, you have the free will to move on and get yourself together 2) if bad things have happened to you because you trusted in people...get over it, their loss, you are not less because you put your heart on the line and gave it your all, you are more because you did, keep your soul, goodness and optimism and educate others that believe good people do not exist.

Very well put Kato.:)

:lovers:

thanks mcm

very true kato just sometimes it's hard to put your heart back on the line when it's been trampled on

isn't it better then throwing away what makes you...before anger and pain came in?

yah it is