Forgiveness is Healthy

By Craig Cox
Published on November 1, 2001
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A new study shows that people who are able to forgive those who have wronged them are healthier than those who harbor grudges, reports Science & Spirit (July/Aug. 2001). Researchers at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, studied 71 undergraduate students and found that “forgiving behavior resulted in lower levels of physical stress and more positive emotions, while unforgiving behavior resulted in higher levels of physical stress and more negative emotions.” Stress and negativity, they note, play a major role in a variety of health problems.

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