The Power of Forgiveness: Finding Peace Within

two palms holding a piece of paper with the word forgive on it

Magnifying Peace Project

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful gifts we can give ourselves. Yet it is often one of the most difficult. When we hold onto hurt, anger, or regret, the burden weighs heavily on our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. It clouds our ability to move forward, and it keeps us tethered to the very pain we long to release.

As part of the Magnifying Peace Project, Marian Egan shares a heartfelt video on forgiveness, along with her Forgiveness Mantra. Her words remind us that peace begins inside. To create peace in the world, we must first be willing to heal the conflicts that live within us. And often, the first step in that process is forgiveness.


Forgiveness as a Pathway to Peace

Many of us think of forgiveness as something we extend to others—to the person who wronged us, betrayed us, or failed to see us fully. While this is true, forgiveness also begins much closer to home. It is about how we treat ourselves, how we speak to ourselves, and how we allow ourselves to grow.

When we judge ourselves harshly, when we replay past mistakes, or when we hold ourselves to impossible standards, we create barriers to peace. These judgments block our healing, leaving us caught in cycles of shame or regret. Forgiveness is not about excusing mistakes or pretending pain didn’t happen—it is about choosing to release the grip of judgment so that compassion can enter.

In doing so, we open the door to peace.


What Science Shows About Forgiveness

Research in psychology and medicine affirms what spiritual traditions have taught for centuries: forgiveness is healing.

  • Reduced Stress: Studies show that forgiveness lowers stress hormone levels, reduces blood pressure, and improves sleep. By releasing resentment, we shift the body out of “fight-or-flight” and into a state of calm.
  • Mental Well-Being: Forgiveness is linked to lower levels of anxiety and depression, and to higher levels of optimism and life satisfaction. It allows the mind to quiet and the heart to soften.
  • Physical Health: People who practice forgiveness report fewer physical symptoms of illness. The act of letting go reduces inflammation and supports immune function, creating space for the body to restore balance.
  • Relationships: Forgiveness fosters empathy and reconnection, creating healthier bonds and more resilient communities. When we choose forgiveness, we create fertile ground for trust to grow.

The science echoes what we already know deep down: forgiveness lightens the load we carry and creates room for peace to flourish.


The Responsibility to Ourselves

In the Magnifying Peace Project, we recognize that peace is not passive. It requires intention, attention, and responsibility. Each of us holds a responsibility to ourselves—not to judge, not to cling to impossible expectations, and not to perpetuate harm through self-criticism.

When we release judgment of ourselves, we create the conditions for healing. We recognize that we are human, that mistakes are part of growth, and that self-compassion is the soil from which peace can grow. By offering ourselves forgiveness, we magnify the possibility of extending that same compassion to others.

This is how forgiveness becomes a collective act. When individuals choose forgiveness, they plant seeds of peace in their communities. Those seeds grow into stronger, more compassionate connections that ripple outward, magnifying peace on a larger scale.


Marian Egan’s Forgiveness Mantra

In her video contribution to this project, Marian Egan shares her Forgiveness Mantra. It is a gentle, powerful reminder that forgiveness is not only an action—it is a practice. A mantra, repeated with intention, has the power to shift energy and perspective.

Marian’s Forgiveness Mantra is an invitation to breathe, to let go, and to soften the heart. It guides us back to the truth that forgiveness is always available. Each repetition becomes a seed planted within, a small act of compassion that nurtures our inner garden of peace.


Choosing Forgiveness Daily

Forgiveness is not a one-time event. It is a daily choice. Each day we may find ourselves judging, resenting, or regretting—whether it is toward ourselves or toward others. Each day, we have the chance to choose differently.

  • Pause and Notice: Recognize when judgment arises. Awareness is the first step toward release.
  • Breathe and Recenter: Use the breath to create space between reaction and response.
  • Repeat a Mantra: Marian’s Forgiveness Mantra, or words of your own, can serve as an anchor.
  • Choose Compassion: Ask yourself: How can I meet this moment with understanding instead of criticism?

These small practices plant seeds of forgiveness that grow stronger with time.


The Gift of Peace

Ultimately, forgiveness is a gift of peace. It allows us to move lightly, to heal more deeply, and to connect more authentically with others. It does not mean forgetting or condoning—it means choosing freedom over bondage, compassion over bitterness, peace over pain.

As Marian Egan so beautifully reminds us, forgiveness is essential to magnifying peace. When we choose forgiveness for ourselves, we create space to offer it to others. And when we offer it to others, we create ripples of healing that extend into the world around us.

May we all find the courage to forgive, the compassion to release judgment, and the strength to nurture peace within and around us

World Mental Health Day – October 10th

As part of assisting your growth and achievement, be sure to register for the special programs offered by www.canbewell.org and www.iask.org for World Mental Health Day. Across 3 time zones we will be sharing 12 topics for assisting you at home and in the workplace with mental health. Take a look at what Marian will be sharing…

Are you looking for more ways to find peace within? Be sure to check out the events in the Greenwell Center shop and consider registering for these powerful programs to help you develop your self-care toolbox. Have you got a tea for these special activities? Don’t miss the special blends in our shop too!

Tai Chi can also offer you peace. You can learn more about Tai Chi Cape Breton‘s in-person classes on the calendar. Or visit www.winecountrytaichi.ca for the classes located in West Kelowna and Peachland, BC.

Discover more from Greenwell Center for Holistic Health

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading