Reconnecting with Old Friends and Family: The Power of Forgiveness
In this Big Feels broadcast, Karena and James explore the importance of reconnecting with old friends and family members to rekindle connections. They delve into the reasons why forgiveness is crucial in the process of healing and maintaining healthy relationships.
Key Takeaways:
- Forgiveness is not about forgetting or excusing hurtful actions but about releasing resentment and anger.
- Holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick.
- True forgiveness involves letting go of negative emotions without guilt, shame, or anger.
- Forgiveness positively impacts mental health and well-being by reducing stress, promoting emotional healing, and strengthening resilience.
- Reconnecting with old friends and family creates opportunities for new experiences and deeper bonds.
Who would benefit from this video:
- Individuals seeking to reconnect with estranged friends or family members
- People struggling with unforgiveness and its impact on their mental health
- Anyone interested in improving their relationships and overall well-being
Strained Relationships: What does it take to heal?
Joe Wicks, a global fitness star with more than 4.5 million followers, touches on a topic that so many deal with but don't know how to talk about: his strained childhood living with parents suffering from mental illness and addiction. Difficult relationships cause stress, grief, trauma, and confusion. But, it is possible to find healing and forgiveness, and even love. Joe shares that even though his home life was full of chaos and destruction, it helped to give him the drive to become a better person, and he says he became a loving person by learning from his parents' mistakes.
Forgiveness is Your Freedom!
Captain Sandy Yawn's learned the importance of self-leadership. She draws the line between forgiveness and resentment: "The subject matter might change, but it's up to you to change your reaction. Lead yourself in the direction that you want to be."
Debbie Whitehead is a licensed therapist with thirty years of experience in mental health and family and marriage counseling. She shared her deep trauma experience as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse which led to her becoming a thriver helping others to heal from CPTSD and trauma. Debbie describes her own experience of confronting her father before his death. Ultimately, forgiveness was the power that led her towards healing.
How to Let Go of Toxic Relationships
We can’t, and never will, control the actions of others. If you're struggling with a letting go of a toxic relationship, renowned activist, author, speaker, and educator in the mental health and relationships space, Dr. Najwa Zebian, has advice on how you can find closure:
What's the First Step Towards Forgiveness?
The Father of Biohacking, Dave Asprey, calls forgiveness "the process of removing fear." He explains the first step and offers up why forgiveness is good for the body!
Sister Talk: Finding Closure or Not? Do Difficult Relationships Heal After Death of a Family Member?
Having a loved one to speak with about your difficult or unprocessed emotions can help! What does forgiveness and closure after death look like among sisters? Karena and I sat down for a chat to answer some questions from the TIU Books & Babes Book Club. We each have our own experiences, and I've found it's really important to remember not to compare your experience of a relationship with someone, to another person's relationship with that person. Having an open conversation can be incredibly validating!
BIG FEELS FEEDBACK
How are you really feeling? We'd love to hear about your week, or share your favorite tools for the week in the comments!
|
The Big Silence Foundation, Inc is a U.S. tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to changing the culture of mental health. Consistent with IRS guidelines, all gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Donate to bring change with us!
|
Start a conversation in your The Big Silence apparel.
The information provided is for educational purposes only, and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Users are advised to consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if they're seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
**Please note that if your thoughts start becoming hopeless or suicidal, contact emergency at 988 or 911 and crisis services immediately. You can find more resources here. Text HELLO to 741741 to be connected with a trained crisis counselor.
