What is the relationship between forgiveness and well-being? Can you think of a situation from your own life where the knowledge of this relationship has been, or would be, beneficial to your well-being?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Forgiveness and gratitude research has expanded rapidly over the last decade. Both concepts link to positive well-being. Forgiveness is an act of giving up resentments towards those we perceive to have harmed us or another and letting go of claims for retribution or restitution. McCullough and his colleagues note that forgiveness helps to restore relationships that are impaired by past aggression or conflict. Rather than engaging in an endless cycle of revenge and counter-revenge for perceived wrongs, forgiveness represents a prosocial tool for relationship restoration.
One study found that when people experienced normal fluctuations in forgiveness levels, elevated forgiveness was later followed by higher levels of psychological well-being in the form of greater positive affect and satisfaction with life and less negative affect and physical health symptoms. These findings suggest that elevated forgiveness may lead to increases in well-being. They also found evidence for a bidirectional relationship suggesting that high well-being may lead to more forgiveness.