Umfangreiche weltweite Studien bringen die Gewohnheit, anderen zu vergeben, mit einem besseren allgemeinen Wohlbefinden in Verbindung

Massive global study links the habit of forgiving others to better overall well-being

A recent study published in npj Mental Health Research provides evidence that a general tendency to forgive others is linked to small but broad improvements in a person’s overall well-being. The findings suggest that practicing forgiveness acts as a helpful ingredient for human flourishing across many different cultures and geographic regions. By highlighting these potential benefits, the research offers a foundation for promoting forgiveness as a way to support mental, social, and emotional health worldwide.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-026-00187-5

This makes perfect sense IMO.

And this is something I always felt that Christians get arse backwards – the benefit of forgiveness is not for person being forgiven, but the person doing the forgiving. It’s a part of moving (often painful) things into your past rather than carrying them around with you.

Also forgiving someone doesn’t mean you have to tell them. If I told one or two people I forgave them they would see it as me accepting them back into my life which is not a possibility once certain boundaries have been crossed.

Some things are unforgivable, though, because forgiveness can become a form of enablement for further abuse by someone who isn’t sorry. So it depends on what’s being forgiven.