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Forgiveness Slows the Spread of Cancer
Sunday night I had the privilege of volunteering at the 13th Annual Forgiveness Day Awards organized by the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance . The event was held on the beautiful campus of the Dominican University in San Rafael, California. The event honored heroes of forgiveness. The first introduction was given by former mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown . He shared the details of how 10 year old Oakland teen Christopher Rodriguez was shot in the back and paralyzed from a stray bullet during the robbery of a gas station across the street while taking a piano lesson. Christopher inspired us all with his retelling of that day and when he forgave the man in court. Elwin Wilson and Congressman John Lewis of Georgia were also honored. Elwin Wilson had beaten John Lewis during the civil rights movement and years ago after harboring a lifetime of hate and beating many African Americans, he had a religious experience and asked for forgiveness from the now Congressman John Lewis. He now publicly speaks on the power of love and forgiveness and John Lewis has spent a lifetime being a champion for these values. Best selling Author Marianne Williamson gave a powerful speech on offering and receiving forgiveness and how public policy to enjoy any real change requires a spiritual element. Dr. Frederick Luskin pulled it all together when he talked about the physical healing that is received by those who forgive. He has helped thousands of people around the world to learn to practice forgiveness, let go of grudges, and lead healthier, happier lives. He is co-founder and director of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects, where he developed his research-tested "Nine Steps to Forgiveness " training methodology. His work has been at the forefront of studies confirming the virtues of forgiveness for mental, physical, and relationship health. He received his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University, where he serves as a senior consultant in health promotion. He also serves as the co-chair of the Garden of Forgiveness Projects at Ground Zero in Manhattan. Forgiveness offers lower blood pressure, less tendency towards depression, lower risk for a heart attack and chronic pain reduction. They were also able to prove that forgiveness slows the spread of cancer. You can find more details on his research on the cancer supportive care programs website . He talked about thinking of forgiveness as a skill to be learned, which is easier if we can kind of step out of ourselves and the situation. He teaches tools to equip this process. He talked about how our culture tends to look for what is wrong and wants us to ask ourselves, do we spend most of our time complaining or praising about those who are around us? He compared his own minor day to day frustrations of tailgators, long lines, high prices at the local whole foods etc., but how lucky he is to be able to drive, have a car and the abundance of a whole foods. He says he has people come into take a workshop who just cannot forgive their neighbor for a one foot fence violation, but yet 10 year old Christopher Rodriguez forgave the man who paralyzed him for life. In his book Forgive for Good, he offers four steps toward forgiveness and the nine steps to Forgiveness, but also points out that forgiveness is not the same as forgetting, pardoning, reconciliating or condoning. The three core components of forgiveness are : 1) View the offense less personally 2) Take responsibility for your own emotional experience 3) Change the story to reflect the heroic choice to grow and prosper.
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