One of the more harder things to do is to forgive someone who has wronged us. It takes real courage and strength to have compassion for someone who has hurt us and to move on from the situation.
Our natural reaction when we have been wrong done by is anger, resentment, bitterness or desire to seek revenge.
Holding on to such negative feelings and persisting with feelings of bitterness and anger when strong enough, could affect your physical health.
On a basic level, harbouring resentment and anger towards another person stimulates the stress response of the “fight-or-flight” mechanisms of the sympathetic nervous system which spikes levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol.
Conversely, resolving conflicts and letting go of your anger towards another person, stimulates the “tend-and-befriend” mechanisms of the parasympathetic nervous system which can increase human bonding and levels of the “love hormone” oxytocin.
Although it can be VERY difficult to forgive and let go, especially when we have been wronged in a very major and serious way.. try to practise the art of compassion towards that person/s. There is always a reason behind why we act the way we do, empathise with that. Send them love and light.. after all why should you do the time for their crime.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you have “ok’d” someones toxic behaviour nor does it mean that you have normalised the behaviour and should allow it to happen again in your life. It just means you no longer need to hold onto the negativity inside yourself. You wouldn’t let assholes live in your house so why let them live in your head?