Reflection 1: Why is forgiveness a character strength? Is revenge an answer to the wrong done by someone? Sanjana- Forgiveness is a strong character strength because it shows that you are resilient, and that you know how to move forward from a set back, be it minor or major. A person with a positive attitude is someone who does not let offense muddle their judgement, which brings me to my next point. Revenge is sweet, as goes the saying, but is it sweet enough to quell the hurt of betrayal? Revenge provides temporary satisfaction to cope with a wrongdoing towards someone, but it is forgiveness that works this, as well as allows us to reform our bonds with those we love, even if they commit mistakes that hurt us in the long run. Nayani- Forgiveness is a character strength because it takes a lot of understanding as you're willing to let go of the person's wrongdoings toward you and move on while giving them a second chance. Reflection 4: “An eye for an eye makes everyone blind.” What are your thoughts on the saying? Tony- To me, “an eye for an eye blinds everyone” means that when you take revenge for any wrongdoing that somebody has done to you, you are hurting everybody around you that is involved, and that also includes yourself, because when you hurt the others, while on the front, revenge is sweet, it is also served cold, leaving you with a feeling of overwhelming guilt and coldness. Vedanth- To me, I think “an eye for an eye makes everyone go blind" means that if you get hurt by someone taking revenge will cause an endless act of violence. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Benefits of forgiveness: Sanjana- Peace of Mind - This is one of the most basic benefits of forgiveness. It applies to both parties involved in the incident. Imagine if you had ever unintentionally hurt someone and through a string of misunderstandings, they come to believe that you truly meant to offend them with an ulterior motive. Even after having explained yourself, guilt still assaults you. Now, receiving the person’s reassurance that they hold no grudges against you would calm your mind and help you forgive yourself as well. You can now successfully adopt a more positive mindset and rest easy, knowing that someone you care about does not think you to be malicious. Nayani- Improved Health- According to research, forgiveness others improves one's physical health. One of the greatest physical benefits of forgiveness is improved heart health. When we choose forgiveness, research has revealed that we have a lower chance of heart attack, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol levels. People can also experience having better sleep and less pain.
