Post on 31-Dec-2015
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Presents
The Physiology of ForgivenessCan You Afford to
be Unforgiving?Arlene R. Taylor PhDwww.arlenetaylor.orgBrain References
Health and ForgivenessArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
There’s something called the
‘physiology of forgiveness’
being unable to forgive other
people’s faults is harmful to
one’s health —Herbert Benson MD
Forgiveness is ScripturalArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
Forgive and you will be forgiven —Luke
6:37
Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. —Colossians 3:13
Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors —Matthew 6:12
If you do not forgive (others) their sins, yours will not be forgiven —Matthew 6: 15
Forgiveness Doesn’t MeanArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
Denying the other person’s responsibility for the wrong
Condoning bad behavior: minimizing, justifying, or excusing the injury / wrong
Waiving right to justice / compensation
Choosing to reconcile or remaining in an abusive relationship / environment
If a Crime Is InvolvedArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
Forgiveness has NOTHING to do with absolving acriminal of his/her crime . . .
It has EVERYTHING to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being a victim—letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor. C. R. Strahan
What Forgiveness IsArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
You give up your right to exact retribution from theindividual who hurt orwronged you
You choose to think about something else rather than harboring resentment
You refrain from repeatedly bringing up the incident to yourself and/or others
Forgiveness is About YOUArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
Studies have shown clearly:
1. The one who is unforgiving suffers the most
2. The one to be forgiven does not need to know or even still be alive
3.Forgiveness benefits the forgiver (you) the most
Forgiveness Type ConfusionArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
Some confuse human forgiveness with Diety forgiveness ― perhaps because many religions emphasize how completely God forgives
Humans cannot forgive at that level but they can forgive
Human forgiveness is far less about “others” and far more about “you”
How God ForgivesArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
Praise the Lord . . . who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases ―King David, Psalm 103: 2-3 NIV
Will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all iniquities into the depths of the sea
―Jeremiah 31:34
Will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more
—Micah 7: 19
Reasons to ForgiveArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
1. It’s the right thing to do because all human beings make mistakes and fall short of the ideal
2. In order to receive forgiveness for your mistakes
3. To preserve your healthif you choose unforgiveness, you will likely be the one who pays most dearly
Two Types of ForgivenessArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
At least two types of forgiveness pop up in the literature: decisional and emotional
Decisional forgiveness
A behavioral intention to resist an unforgiving stance
A choice to respond differently toward a transgressor (letting go of bitterness, grudges, resentment, and revenge)
Two Types, Cont’dArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
Emotional forgiveness:
The replacement of negative unforgiving emotions with positive other-oriented emotions
Involves psychophysiological changes
Has greater positive direct health and well-being consequences
CaveatArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
Humans tend to rememberand rehearse what they thought they’ve forgiven
The cemetery metaphor can be helpful
Bury all the mistakes, injuries, and wrongs that you have forgiven
No headstones! That way you can’t go back and dig up what I’ve forgiven and buried
Forgiveness Health ImpactArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) research:what you think about can alter levels of several chemicals in your brain and body
Every thought you think alters your neurochemistry changes the chemical composition in your brain and body, impacts yourenergy, and enhances or suppresses immune system function
You May Say . . .Arlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
Your brain and body know and long term this will have impact your health
Examples:
Anger - adrenalin, dopamine
Sadness - serotonin
Laughter - dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins
But no one knows I’m unforgiving . . .
Thoughts Mental PictureArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
I hate ______ and Iwon’t forgive . . .
I regret what happened and \ I forgive ______ for the benefits I receive
Your choice will impact both brain and body
The Health ConnectionArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
When you say “I forgive you,” you’re also saying “I want to be healthy”
The act of forgiving allows the body to turn down the manufacture ofcatabolic chemicals, and instructs the subconscious to banish negative feelings from the mind
Doctors Arnold Fox and Barry FoxAuthors of Wake Up! You’re Alive!
Grid StudyArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
By thinking (imagining) your brain changes
Grid Study results:
Actual experience
Virtual experience
PET Scans showed little if any difference in changes to brain imaging print-outs
Brain-Body Arlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
Neurons (thinking cells) are found in the brain and many other placesin the body, including:
•Heart (40,000+ neurons)•Solar Plexus (large clusters)•GI Tract (1,000,000 neurons, 90% of the serotonin and 50% of the dopamine in your brain and body)
The Health ImpactArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
If you choose unforgiveness, studies have shown negative side affects, including:
• stress levels and muscle tension• levels of adrenaline and cortisol• blood pressure and heart rate• risk for depression, heart disease, stroke, and cancer•Suppressed immune function •Impaired neurological function / memory
Health Impact, Cont’dArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
If you choose decisional and emotional forgiveness, studies have shownpositive outcomes, including:
•Healthier relationships•Lower blood pressure •Less anxiety, stress, and hostility •Fewer symptoms of depression •Lower risk of alcohol / substance abuse• compassion, kindness, and peace• mental, physical, and spiritual health
To Forgive or Not to ForgiveArlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org
Unforgiveness results in negativeoutcomes to your health andoverall wellbeing
Forgiveness results in positive outcomes to your brain and body, receiving forgiveness for your negative-consequence behaviors, and increase health and wellbeing
Summary GuidelinesArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
Although humans never forgive at God’s level, they can follow guidelines:
1.Choose to forgive - step 1 and step 2
2.Bury what you forgive - no headstones
3.Stop talking about them – no rehearsing
4.Be healthy and prosper – even as your soul prospers
Practical ApplicationArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
As a Preacher’s Kid anddealing with critical churchmembers, my father said hefound the parable of the sower helpful
A phone call last week reminded me of some of those childhood experiences
It had to do with Soquel Campmeeting . . .
ObservationsArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
People who have a strong spiritual ethic tend to be forgiving at both step 1 and step 2
Those who are religiously rigid—but not very spiritual—may be less forgiving and more critical, judgmental, and even vindictive
Middle-Ages persecution
Palestinian wars
Iraq-Pakistan conflicts
Forgiveness is About YouArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc
1. Do you want forgiveness?
2. Who do you need to forgive?
3. How big is your cemetery?
4. How healthy do you want to be?
It’s your choice…