Holding onto anger and resentment can really mess with your health, both how you feel and how your body works. It’s like carrying around a heavy backpack, and eventually, it starts to wear you down. This is especially true when it comes to stress eating; when we’re holding onto grudges, we often turn to food for comfort. But there’s good news. Learning about forgiveness and health shows us that letting go can actually make us feel better, inside and out. It’s not always easy, but it’s a path worth exploring for a healthier, less stressed you.
Key Takeaways
- Forgiveness and health are closely linked; letting go of anger can lower stress, improve heart health, and boost your immune system.
- Holding onto grudges negatively impacts your physical health, potentially raising blood pressure and increasing inflammation.
- Mentally and emotionally, forgiveness can ease anxiety and depression, making you more resilient and happier.
- The process of forgiving others involves acknowledging hurt, shifting perspective, and making a choice to let go, not necessarily forgetting or reconciling.
- Self-forgiveness is also vital, requiring you to accept mistakes, learn from them, and treat yourself with kindness.
Understanding Forgiveness and Health
The Profound Link Between Forgiveness and Well-being
It might sound a bit counterintuitive, but holding onto anger and resentment can really mess with your health. Think of it like carrying a heavy backpack everywhere you go – eventually, it’s going to wear you down. When we refuse to let go of past hurts, those negative feelings can start to impact us physically and mentally. It’s not about excusing bad behavior or forgetting what happened. It’s more about freeing yourself from the emotional burden that keeps you stuck.
How Holding Grudges Impacts Your Health
When you’re constantly replaying a hurtful event or feeling bitter towards someone, your body goes into a kind of stress mode. This can lead to a cascade of physical reactions. Your heart rate might increase, your blood pressure could go up, and your muscles might tense. Over time, this chronic stress can contribute to a whole host of health problems, from heart issues to digestive troubles and even a weakened immune system. It’s like your body is constantly on high alert, and that’s exhausting.
The Science Behind Letting Go
So, what happens when you actually decide to forgive? It’s not just a feel-good concept; there’s real science behind it. Studies have shown that people who practice forgiveness tend to have lower blood pressure, better heart health, and even report less chronic pain. When you release resentment, you’re essentially turning off that internal stress response. This allows your body to relax and begin to heal. It’s a powerful shift that can lead to significant improvements in your overall well-being.
Here’s a quick look at some of the reported benefits:
- Reduced stress hormones
- Lowered blood pressure
- Improved sleep quality
- Decreased feelings of anger and bitterness
Letting go doesn’t mean you’re saying what happened was okay. It means you’re choosing not to let it control your present and future happiness. It’s a gift you give yourself.
The Physical Benefits of Releasing Resentment
You know, holding onto anger and resentment is like carrying around a heavy backpack filled with rocks. It weighs you down, and honestly, it’s not doing your body any favors. When you’re constantly replaying slights or feeling bitter, your body goes into a sort of low-grade, constant stress mode. This isn’t just in your head; it has real physical consequences.
Lowering Blood Pressure and Improving Heart Health
When you’re stewing in resentment, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This can make your heart pound a bit faster and your blood vessels tighten up. Over time, this constant strain can really take a toll on your cardiovascular system. Studies have shown that people who practice forgiveness tend to have lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease. It’s like giving your heart a much-needed break from the constant pressure.
Reducing Chronic Pain and Inflammation
That knot in your stomach? Or that persistent ache in your shoulders? Sometimes, that’s your body’s way of showing it’s holding onto emotional pain. Chronic stress and anger can actually increase inflammation throughout your body, which is linked to all sorts of aches and pains. Letting go of that emotional baggage can help dial down that internal fire, potentially leading to less discomfort and a greater sense of physical ease.
Strengthening Your Immune System
Think of your immune system like a security guard. When it’s constantly on high alert because of stress and resentment, it gets worn out. This makes it harder for your body to fight off actual threats, like colds or other illnesses. By releasing resentment, you’re essentially telling your body’s security system that it can relax a bit. This can lead to a stronger immune response, making you less susceptible to getting sick. It’s pretty amazing how much our emotional state can impact our physical health, right?
Mental and Emotional Gains from Forgiveness
Letting go of what’s bothering you isn’t just about feeling a bit lighter; it can actually change how your mind and emotions work for the better. When you’re stuck replaying a hurt or holding onto anger, it’s like carrying a heavy backpack everywhere you go. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is like setting that backpack down.
Alleviating Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
When you forgive, you’re essentially telling your brain to stop focusing on the negative event. This can really dial down the constant worry and sadness that often comes with holding grudges. Think about it: if you’re not constantly reliving an argument or a betrayal, your mind has more space to just be calm. Studies have shown that people who practice forgiveness tend to report fewer feelings of anxiety and depression. It’s not a magic cure, of course, but it’s a significant step towards feeling more at ease.
Enhancing Emotional Regulation and Resilience
Forgiveness helps you get better at handling your feelings. Instead of being completely overwhelmed by anger or hurt when something goes wrong, you learn to manage those emotions more effectively. This makes you more resilient – meaning you can bounce back quicker when life throws you a curveball. It’s like building up your emotional muscles. You start to see that you can handle difficult situations without letting them completely derail you.
Here’s a look at how forgiveness can help you manage your emotions:
- Less Reactivity: You’re less likely to lash out or get overly upset by minor annoyances.
- Better Coping: You develop healthier ways to deal with stress and disappointment.
- Increased Calm: A general sense of peace becomes more accessible, even when things aren’t perfect.
Boosting Life Satisfaction and Inner Peace
Ultimately, when you’re not weighed down by resentment, your overall happiness tends to go up. You can enjoy the present moment more because you’re not constantly comparing it to a past hurt or worrying about future retribution. This leads to a deeper sense of inner peace. It’s about reclaiming your energy and directing it towards things that bring you joy and fulfillment, rather than letting past hurts drain you.
Forgiveness is a choice you make for yourself. It’s about freeing yourself from the emotional chains of the past so you can live more fully in the present. This internal shift can lead to a profound sense of relief and contentment that impacts all areas of your life.
Navigating the Path to Forgiving Others
Okay, so forgiving someone who’s wronged you? It’s not exactly a walk in the park, is it? It feels like a big hurdle, and honestly, sometimes it seems impossible. But here’s the thing: it’s a process, and like any process, it has steps. You don’t just wake up one day and decide you’re over it. It takes some real work.
Acknowledging the Hurt and Identifying Emotions
First off, you’ve got to be honest with yourself about what happened. What exactly did they do, and how did it make you feel? Don’t brush it under the rug. Was it anger? Sadness? Betrayal? Maybe a mix of everything. It’s okay to feel these things. Trying to pretend you’re not hurt just makes it harder to move on. You need to name the specific incident and the emotions that came up. It’s like figuring out what’s actually bothering you before you can fix it.
- Identify the specific event that caused the pain.
- List the emotions you felt (e.g., anger, sadness, fear, disappointment).
- Acknowledge the impact this event had on you.
Considering Circumstances and Shifting Perspective
This is where it gets tricky. It’s not about making excuses for the other person’s behavior, not at all. But sometimes, understanding why they might have acted that way can help take some of the sting out. Were they going through something tough? Did they have a rough upbringing? Maybe they just didn’t know any better. This isn’t about saying what they did was okay, but about seeing the bigger picture. It can help you feel less personally attacked and more like you’re dealing with a flawed human being, just like everyone else.
Trying to see things from another person’s point of view, even when it’s hard, can sometimes soften the edges of your own anger. It doesn’t mean you agree with them or excuse their actions, but it can offer a different lens through which to view the situation.
Making the Conscious Choice to Forgive
After you’ve acknowledged the hurt and tried to understand the other person’s side, the next step is a conscious decision. You have to choose to let go of the resentment. This isn’t about forgetting what happened or saying it was fine. It’s about deciding that holding onto that anger isn’t serving you anymore. It’s a personal choice for your own peace. You might even say it out loud to yourself, or write it down. It’s a commitment to yourself to move forward.
- Decide internally to release the anger and resentment.
- Recognize that forgiveness is for your well-being.
- Understand that this doesn’t mean forgetting or condoning the behavior.
The Practice of Self-Forgiveness
Accepting Mistakes and Taking Responsibility
Okay, so we’ve talked about letting go of what others have done, but what about what we’ve done? It’s often way harder to forgive ourselves, right? We can be our own harshest critics. When we mess up, it’s easy to get stuck in a loop of guilt and shame. But here’s the thing: we’re all human. We’re going to make mistakes. The goal isn’t to be perfect, it’s to learn and grow from those stumbles.
Acknowledging what happened without making excuses is the first real step. It means looking at your actions, seeing the impact they had, and owning it. This isn’t about beating yourself up endlessly; it’s about honest recognition. Think about it like this:
- Identify the specific action or inaction that you regret.
- Recognize the consequences, both for yourself and potentially for others.
- Accept that you were responsible for that choice at that time.
It’s a tough pill to swallow sometimes, but it’s necessary. Without this honest look, we can’t really move forward. It’s like trying to fix a leaky pipe without admitting there’s a leak in the first place.
Learning from the Past for Future Growth
Once you’ve owned up to your part, the next bit is figuring out what you can actually learn from it. Mistakes aren’t just failures; they’re often the best teachers we’ve got. If you keep repeating the same patterns, it’s probably because you haven’t quite figured out the lesson yet. So, take some time to really think about it.
What went wrong? What would you do differently next time? What does this experience tell you about your values or your goals? Turning these moments into learning opportunities means you’re not just dwelling on the past, you’re actively shaping a better future. It’s about taking that difficult experience and making it useful.
We often get so caught up in the feeling of being bad that we forget the possibility of becoming better. The past doesn’t have to define us if we’re willing to learn from it and change our course.
Cultivating Self-Compassion and Kindness
This is where the real magic happens, or at least, where the healing begins. After acknowledging your mistakes and figuring out what to learn, you need to treat yourself with kindness. Seriously. Would you talk to a friend the way you sometimes talk to yourself? Probably not. Self-compassion means extending that same understanding and gentleness to yourself.
It’s about recognizing that you’re doing the best you can, even when you fall short. It involves:
- Being understanding of your imperfections.
- Remembering that suffering and failure are part of the shared human experience.
- Offering yourself kindness and support when you’re struggling.
This isn’t about letting yourself off the hook entirely, but about creating a supportive inner environment where growth is possible. It’s the foundation for truly letting go of self-blame and moving forward with a lighter heart.
Distinguishing Forgiveness from Reconciliation
It’s really easy to get forgiveness and reconciliation mixed up. People often think that if you forgive someone, you automatically have to let them back into your life, like nothing ever happened. But that’s just not true. They are two very different things, and understanding that difference is a big deal for your own peace of mind.
Understanding the Nuances of Each Process
Forgiveness is mostly an internal job. It’s about you deciding to let go of the anger, the bitterness, and the hurt that someone caused. It’s a personal choice to release yourself from the emotional weight of what happened. You forgive for you, not necessarily for the other person. It doesn’t mean you forget what happened, or that you think it was okay. It just means you’re choosing not to let that past event control your present feelings.
Reconciliation, on the other hand, is about rebuilding a relationship. It involves both people working together to restore trust, communicate openly, and often, for the person who caused harm to show genuine remorse and make amends. It’s a two-way street, and it requires the willingness and effort of everyone involved. You can forgive someone without ever reconciling with them.
When Reconciliation May Not Be Possible or Safe
Sometimes, reconciliation just isn’t in the cards. Maybe the person who hurt you isn’t around anymore, or they’re not willing to talk or take responsibility for their actions. In other situations, trying to reconcile might actually put you in harm’s way again. If someone has a pattern of hurtful behavior and shows no signs of changing, forcing reconciliation could be a bad idea. It’s important to protect yourself, and that might mean keeping a safe distance even after you’ve forgiven them.
Here are a few reasons why reconciliation might not be the right path:
- The person is unwilling to acknowledge their actions or apologize.
- There’s a history of repeated harm or abuse.
- Rebuilding the relationship would put your emotional or physical safety at risk.
- The person is no longer in your life (e.g., deceased, moved away).
Focusing on Internal Peace Over External Resolution
Ultimately, the goal of forgiveness is your own well-being. It’s about finding inner peace and freeing yourself from the grip of resentment. You don’t need the other person’s approval or participation to achieve this. Focusing on your internal state means you’re taking back control of your emotions and your life. You can achieve a sense of closure and move forward, even if the external situation isn’t perfectly resolved. It’s about finding a way to live with what happened without letting it define you or weigh you down.
Practical Steps to Release Resentment
Okay, so we’ve talked about why holding onto grudges is a real drag on our health and happiness. But how do we actually do this whole ‘letting go’ thing? It’s not like flipping a switch, right? It takes some real effort, but it’s totally doable. Think of it like clearing out a cluttered room in your house – it feels so much better once it’s done.
Identifying the Root of Your Grudges
First things first, you gotta figure out what’s actually bothering you. Sometimes we get mad about one thing, but it’s really a bunch of older stuff bubbling up. Grab a notebook or just sit quietly for a bit. What specific event or person keeps popping into your head? What feelings come up when you think about it? Is it anger? Sadness? Betrayal? Just naming it can take away some of its power. Don’t judge yourself for feeling this way; just observe.
- Pinpoint the exact situation: What happened? Who was involved?
- List the emotions: What did you feel then? What do you feel now?
- Consider the impact: How has this grudge affected your life, your mood, your relationships?
Practicing Empathy and Understanding Perspectives
This is a tough one, I know. It doesn’t mean you have to agree with what happened or say it was okay. But trying to see things from the other person’s point of view can really shift how you feel. Maybe they were having a terrible day, maybe they didn’t know any better, or maybe they were dealing with their own stuff you knew nothing about. It’s not about excusing their behavior, but about understanding that people are complex and often act out of their own pain or limitations.
Understanding someone else’s situation doesn’t mean you have to forget what they did or let them off the hook. It’s about finding a little bit of space in your own heart to see them as a human being, flaws and all. This can help you detach from the intense anger that’s hurting you.
Engaging in Healthy Self-Care Practices
When you’re working through resentment, you need to be extra kind to yourself. This is where self-care comes in big time. It’s not just bubble baths and face masks (though those are nice too!). It’s about actively doing things that make you feel good, grounded, and strong. This could be anything from going for a walk in nature, listening to music, spending time with supportive friends, or even just making sure you’re eating well and getting enough sleep. These activities help build up your resilience and give you the energy to keep working on letting go.
Here are some ideas:
- Movement: Gentle exercise like walking, yoga, or stretching can release physical tension.
- Mindfulness: Simple breathing exercises or short meditations can help calm your nervous system.
- Connection: Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist about what you’re going through.
- Creative Outlets: Journaling, drawing, or playing an instrument can be great ways to express emotions.
Forgiveness as a Therapeutic Tool
Sometimes, working through hurt and resentment feels like trying to untangle a really knotted ball of yarn. You pull one thread, and it just tightens things up somewhere else. That’s where therapy can really step in and help. It’s not about having someone else fix it for you, but more about having a guide who knows the best ways to approach the tangle.
How Therapies Support the Forgiveness Journey
Therapies offer structured ways to approach forgiveness, making it less overwhelming. Think of it like having a map when you’re lost. Different approaches focus on different aspects of the healing process. Some help you understand why you’re holding onto anger, while others give you tools to actually let it go. It’s about building skills to manage those tough feelings so they don’t run your life.
Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Techniques
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a big one here. It’s all about looking at your thoughts. If someone hurt you, you might have thoughts like, "They’re a terrible person and I’ll never forgive them." CBT helps you examine those thoughts. Are they completely true? Are they helpful? It encourages you to find more balanced ways of thinking about the situation and the person involved. It’s not about pretending the hurt didn’t happen, but about seeing it more clearly and less emotionally.
Embracing Compassion-Focused Approaches
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is another helpful angle. This one really zeroes in on self-criticism and shame, which often go hand-in-hand with resentment. It helps you develop kindness towards yourself, which is a huge part of being able to forgive others. When you’re kinder to yourself, you’re less likely to get stuck in a cycle of blame. It teaches you to see yourself and others as imperfect beings, which can really soften the edges of past hurts.
Here’s a look at some common techniques used:
- Reframing Thoughts: Changing negative or unhelpful thinking patterns about the offense.
- Empathy Building: Trying to understand the other person’s perspective, even if you don’t agree with it.
- Mindfulness Practices: Learning to observe your feelings without getting swept away by them.
Therapy provides a safe space to explore difficult emotions. It’s a place where you can unpack the hurt without judgment and learn practical strategies for moving forward. The goal isn’t to forget what happened, but to lessen its power over your present and future well-being.
It’s important to remember that forgiveness isn’t about saying what happened was okay. It’s about freeing yourself from the burden of anger and resentment. Therapies offer a roadmap for this journey, helping you reclaim your peace and improve your overall health.
Why Forgiving Doesn’t Mean Forgetting
It’s easy to get stuck thinking that forgiving someone means you’re saying what they did was okay, or that you’re just going to forget the whole thing happened. Honestly, that’s a big reason why a lot of people avoid forgiveness altogether. They worry that letting go of anger means letting the other person off the hook, or worse, making themselves vulnerable to being hurt again. But here’s the thing: forgiveness isn’t about erasing the past or pretending the hurt never occurred. It’s about acknowledging that something painful happened, understanding its impact on you, and then making a choice to release the heavy emotional burden that comes with holding onto that pain.
Acknowledging Injury Without Condoning Behavior
Think of it this way: you can recognize that a wound exists without pretending it’s not there or that it didn’t hurt. Forgiveness means you see the harm that was done, you feel the sting of it, but you decide not to let that sting define your present or your future. It’s about separating the memory of the event from the ongoing emotional turmoil it causes. You can remember what happened, learn from it, and even hold the person accountable in your own mind, all while choosing to let go of the anger that’s really only hurting you.
Setting Healthy Boundaries for Self-Protection
This is a really important part of the process. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you have to invite them back into your life or trust them implicitly again. In fact, true forgiveness often involves setting clear boundaries. This might mean limiting contact, changing the nature of your relationship, or simply deciding what kind of behavior you will and will not accept moving forward. It’s about protecting yourself from further harm while still working on your own internal peace. You can forgive someone and still keep them at arm’s length, and that’s perfectly okay.
Reclaiming Your Emotional Narrative
When you’re holding onto resentment, it’s like that past event is still in control of your emotions. You might find yourself replaying the situation, feeling the anger or sadness over and over. Forgiveness is about taking that control back. It’s about rewriting your story so that the hurtful event is just one chapter, not the entire book. You get to decide what the rest of the story looks like. This process allows you to move forward, focusing your energy on healing and growth rather than staying stuck in the pain of what happened.
Here’s a simple way to think about the difference:
| Concept | Forgiving | Forgetting |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Internal decision to release resentment | Loss of memory of an event |
| Focus | Personal peace and emotional well-being | Erasing the past |
| Outcome | Freedom from negative emotions, moving forward | Potential for repeat of harmful behavior |
| Accountability | Can coexist with accountability | Implies lack of consequence |
| Boundaries | Often involves setting boundaries | May lead to a lack of necessary boundaries |
Integrating Forgiveness into Daily Life
Maintaining Forgiveness as an Ongoing Choice
So, you’ve done the hard work. You’ve acknowledged the hurt, maybe even shifted your perspective, and made the conscious decision to let go. That’s huge! But here’s the thing: forgiveness isn’t usually a one-and-done deal. Think of it more like tending a garden. You plant the seeds, water them, and then you have to keep an eye on things. Life happens, old feelings can pop up, and that’s totally normal. The goal here is to make forgiveness a practice, a habit, something you return to. It’s about recognizing that holding onto anger is like carrying a heavy backpack everywhere you go – it just weighs you down. Choosing to set that backpack down, even for a little while each day, makes a massive difference in how you feel and move through the world.
Revisiting Steps When Old Wounds Surface
It’s bound to happen. You’ll be going about your day, feeling pretty good, and then BAM! Something triggers that old memory, that familiar sting of resentment. Maybe it’s a certain song, a comment from someone, or even just a random thought. When this happens, don’t beat yourself up about it. Instead, see it as an opportunity. It’s a chance to practice what you’ve learned. You don’t need to go through the entire forgiveness process from scratch every single time. Often, just a quick check-in with yourself is enough. Ask: What am I feeling right now? Is this feeling serving me? Can I choose to let it go, even just for today? Sometimes, a simple acknowledgment of the feeling, followed by a conscious decision to release it, is all it takes to get back on track. It’s about building that muscle memory of letting go.
The Long-Term Impact on Your Health
When you consistently choose to forgive, especially yourself, you’re not just clearing your head; you’re actively improving your physical and mental health. Think about it: less stress means lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and better sleep. When you’re not constantly replaying hurts or feeling that knot of anger in your stomach, your body can actually relax and heal. This isn’t just about feeling happier; it’s about creating a more resilient, healthier you. Over time, this practice can lead to a significant reduction in chronic pain, fewer stress-related illnesses, and a general sense of well-being that permeates every aspect of your life. It’s a powerful, ongoing investment in yourself.
Here’s a quick look at what consistent forgiveness practice can do:
- Reduced Stress Hormones: Lower levels of cortisol and adrenaline.
- Improved Cardiovascular Health: Potentially lower blood pressure and heart rate.
- Better Sleep Quality: Less rumination means a more peaceful mind at night.
- Increased Emotional Resilience: A greater capacity to bounce back from life’s challenges.
Making forgiveness a daily habit isn’t about being a doormat or pretending everything is fine when it’s not. It’s about recognizing that your own peace of mind and health are too important to be held hostage by past hurts. It’s a proactive choice for a better you.
Making forgiveness a part of your everyday life can bring a lot of peace. It’s about letting go of grudges and moving forward with a lighter heart. This practice can truly change how you feel day-to-day. Ready to learn more about how to start? Visit our website for simple steps and guidance.
Moving Forward with Peace
So, we’ve talked a lot about how holding onto anger can really mess with your head and your body, sometimes even leading to stress eating. It’s not easy, but letting go of grudges is like giving yourself a big, much-needed break. It’s a process, for sure, and it takes time. Remember, forgiving doesn’t mean you forget what happened or that the other person gets off scot-free. It’s about freeing yourself from that heavy weight. By working through these steps, you’re not just reducing stress; you’re actively choosing a healthier, more peaceful way to live, one day at a time. Be patient with yourself, and know that this journey toward forgiveness is a powerful step for your overall well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is forgiveness, and how does it help my health?
Forgiveness is like choosing to let go of angry feelings you have towards someone who hurt you. It’s not about saying what they did was okay, but rather about freeing yourself from the heavy burden of that anger. When you forgive, your body’s stress levels can go down, which is good for your heart and can make you feel less anxious and sad. It’s like giving yourself a gift of peace.
Is forgiving someone the same as letting them back into my life?
Not at all! Forgiving means you’re releasing your own anger and hurt. Reconciling means trying to fix the relationship and trust the person again. You can forgive someone without ever wanting to see them or trust them again. Your own peace is the main goal, not necessarily fixing the relationship.
I made a mistake. How do I forgive myself?
Forgiving yourself can be tough because we’re often our own harshest critics. It starts with admitting you made a mistake and taking responsibility, but not beating yourself up forever. Think about what you learned from it and how you can do better next time. Being kind to yourself, like you would be to a good friend, is super important.
What if I can’t stop thinking about what happened?
It’s normal for old hurts to pop up now and then. Forgiveness is more like a choice you make over and over, not a one-time event. When those thoughts come back, try to remember why you chose to forgive and focus on the good things in your life now. Sometimes talking to a counselor can help you work through these feelings.
How can I deal with the hurt without holding onto anger?
First, figure out what exactly is making you angry. Then, try to understand why the other person acted the way they did, even if it doesn’t excuse their actions. Doing nice things for yourself, like exercising or spending time with people you like, can also help you feel better and let go of that anger.
Does forgiving mean I have to forget what happened?
No, forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting. You can remember what happened and even learn from it. It just means you’re choosing not to let the memory control your feelings or cause you more pain. You can remember the event, acknowledge that it was wrong, but still decide to move on without the anger.
Can a therapist help me with forgiveness?
Absolutely! Therapists can be a great help. They use different methods, like talking about your feelings and thoughts, to guide you through the process. They can help you understand your anger, learn to be kinder to yourself, and find ways to let go of resentment in a safe and supportive way.
What are the main health benefits of letting go of grudges?
When you let go of grudges, your body can relax. Things like your blood pressure might go down, and your heart can be healthier. It can also help with physical pain and make your immune system stronger, so you get sick less often. Mentally, it can reduce feelings of sadness and worry, making you feel happier overall.