Do you still have a decades-old bone to pick with obnoxious Aunt Pat? Forget about it.
A 2014 study published in the Social Psychological and Personality Science found that people who bury the hatchet (even if they simply imagine forgiving someone) move from feeling like a victim to increasing their sense of personal power.
What’s particularly interesting, however, is that increasing your sense of personal power also amps up physical strength. “Our research shows that forgivers perceive a less daunting world and perform better on challenging physical tasks,” writes a research team led by Xue Zheng. “A state of unforgiveness is like a heavy burden that victims bring with them when they navigate the physical world. Forgiveness can lighten this burden.”
Holding a grudge also increases mental rumination (repetitive thoughts), which lowers cognitive resources, such as glucose, that could be put to better use, such as coping with a physical challenge. So take a deep breathe during your holiday dinner, cram in some more cranberry and just let—it—go.
This article is a part of the Transformation Issue – December 2015/January 2016 issue of Whole Life Times.