• Mahakaleshwar Online Booking
    The Mahakaleshwar temple in the ancient city of Ujjain is one of India's most revered and sacred shrines. It holds immense significance in Hindu mythology and is mentioned in several ancient scriptures. The temple is known for its unique features, including the Swayambhu lingam and the south-facing Dakshinamurti idol. These features symbolise the temple's tantric significance, making it stand out among the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country.

    If you plan to visit this revered temple and want to be a part of its sacred rituals, you can now book your visit online. Doing so ensures that your visit is smooth and hassle-free and allows you to partake in all the rituals. Once you book your visit online, you can also receive the sanctified Prasad Pouch, considered a blessing from the deity. With Mahakaleshwar Online Booking, you can enrich your spiritual journey and experience divine grace in the most convenient way possible
    Visit: https://gharmandir.in/mandir/mahakaleshwar-jyotirlinga/
    Mahakaleshwar Online Booking The Mahakaleshwar temple in the ancient city of Ujjain is one of India's most revered and sacred shrines. It holds immense significance in Hindu mythology and is mentioned in several ancient scriptures. The temple is known for its unique features, including the Swayambhu lingam and the south-facing Dakshinamurti idol. These features symbolise the temple's tantric significance, making it stand out among the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country. If you plan to visit this revered temple and want to be a part of its sacred rituals, you can now book your visit online. Doing so ensures that your visit is smooth and hassle-free and allows you to partake in all the rituals. Once you book your visit online, you can also receive the sanctified Prasad Pouch, considered a blessing from the deity. With Mahakaleshwar Online Booking, you can enrich your spiritual journey and experience divine grace in the most convenient way possible Visit: https://gharmandir.in/mandir/mahakaleshwar-jyotirlinga/
    GHARMANDIR.IN
    Mahakaleshwar Online Pooja Booking Services - Ghar Mandir
    Start your online spiritual journey for as low as Rs 101 from the comfort of your home with Mahakaleshwar online booking pooja service through Ghar Mandir.
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  • For travellers seeking affordable accommodations in the picturesque town of Kanyakumari, Budget Hotels In Kanyakumari offers a comfortable stay without breaking the bank. These well-appointed lodgings cater to various preferences, providing a range of amenities at wallet-friendly rates. With an emphasis on value, Budget Hotels in Kanyakumari ensures a memorable stay, allowing guests to explore the town's vibrant attractions while keeping lodging expenses within budget. Discover the perfect balance of comfort and affordability with these Hotels In Kanyakumari With Tariff, complete with transparent and competitive tariff options.
    Visit: https://www.hoteltempleciti.com/
    For travellers seeking affordable accommodations in the picturesque town of Kanyakumari, Budget Hotels In Kanyakumari offers a comfortable stay without breaking the bank. These well-appointed lodgings cater to various preferences, providing a range of amenities at wallet-friendly rates. With an emphasis on value, Budget Hotels in Kanyakumari ensures a memorable stay, allowing guests to explore the town's vibrant attractions while keeping lodging expenses within budget. Discover the perfect balance of comfort and affordability with these Hotels In Kanyakumari With Tariff, complete with transparent and competitive tariff options. Visit: https://www.hoteltempleciti.com/
    Hotel in Kanyakumari near beach with tariff | Budget hotels | Hotels at Kanyakumari
    Looking for hotel booking in Kanyakumari? Hotel Temple Citi is the best Hotels in Kanyakumari with tariff. Call 8220181796 to book hotel in Kanyakumari near beach that offers luxury accommodation @budget rates.
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  • Reality Of Bageshwar Dham Baba
    These last few months, a new baby has entered the market. The name of the baba is Bageshwar Baba.
    #news #temple #buy #best #beautiful #trending #offer
    More : https://sanepanda.com/news/reality-of-bageshwar-dham-baba/
    Reality Of Bageshwar Dham Baba These last few months, a new baby has entered the market. The name of the baba is Bageshwar Baba. #news #temple #buy #best #beautiful #trending #offer More : https://sanepanda.com/news/reality-of-bageshwar-dham-baba/
    SANEPANDA.COM
    Reality Of Bageshwar Dham Baba »
    These last few months, a new baby has entered the market. The name of the baba is Bageshwar Baba. You’d wonder what’s special in this baba. It’s being claimed that this baba miraculously understands the problems of his believers, and gives them equally miraculous solutions. But that’s not all, with an added angle of Hindu-Muslim,
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  • Black Magic Removal Temple in Karnataka | Black Magic

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    https://famousastrologycentre.com/black-magic-removal-temple-in-karnataka/

    He provides you with all of the very best solutions of your problems.whatever it private issues,business problems,black magic removal temple in Karnataka

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    Black Magic Removal Temple in Karnataka | Black Magic Visit us : https://famousastrologycentre.com/black-magic-removal-temple-in-karnataka/ He provides you with all of the very best solutions of your problems.whatever it private issues,business problems,black magic removal temple in Karnataka #blackmagicremoval #blackmagicremovaltempleinkarnataka
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  • Cultures Around the World....

    "The role of culture is that it’s the form through which we as a society reflect on who we are, where we’ve been, where we hope to be"

    African cultures:
    Africa is a vast and diverse continent with a multitude of cultures, each with its own unique traditions, languages, art forms, and customs. Here are some examples of African cultures:

    West African Cultures:

    Nigerian Culture: Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, each with its distinct culture. Nigerian culture is known for its diverse traditional music (like Afrobeat and Highlife), vibrant festivals (such as the Eyo Festival and Durbar Festival), colorful traditional clothing (like the agbada and gele), and rich culinary traditions.

    "A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people"

    Senegalese Culture: Senegal is renowned for its vibrant music scene, particularly Mbalax, as well as its traditional wrestling (Laamb), intricate textiles (like the colorful Senegalese wax prints), and traditional food like thieboudienne (a popular Senegalese fish and rice dish).

    East African Cultures:

    Kenyan Culture: Kenya is home to diverse ethnic groups such as the Kikuyu, Luo, Maasai, and many more. Kenyan culture is known for its traditional music (like Benga and Taarab), Maasai beadwork and distinctive attire, Swahili language, wildlife conservation efforts, and world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve.

    Ethiopian Culture: Ethiopia has a rich cultural heritage that includes ancient traditions, distinctive music (such as Ethiopian jazz and traditional folk music), traditional dance (like the shoulder-shaking Eskista), unique cuisine (including injera and doro wat), and religious festivals like Timkat and Meskel.

    "If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him"

    North African Cultures:

    Egyptian Culture: Egypt has a civilization dating back thousands of years, influencing various aspects of its culture. Egyptian culture is known for its ancient monuments (such as the pyramids and temples), hieroglyphic writing, traditional music (like Arabic music and traditional instruments like the oud), and vibrant festivals like the ancient celebration of Sham El-Nessim.

    Moroccan Culture: Morocco is a fusion of Arab, Berber, and French influences. Moroccan culture is characterized by its vibrant markets (souks), traditional music (including Gnawa and Andalusian music), intricate architecture (like the beautiful mosques and riads), rich cuisine (including couscous and tagine), and traditional festivals like Eid al-Fitr and Fantasia.

    "You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them"

    Southern African Cultures:

    South African Culture: South Africa is a melting pot of various cultures, including Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, and many others. South African culture is known for its diverse languages, vibrant music (including genres like Kwaito and Afrikaans music), traditional dance (such as the energetic Gumboot dance), rich literary heritage (with writers like Nelson Mandela and Nadine Gordimer), and iconic landmarks like Table Mountain and Kruger National Park.

    Zimbabwean Culture: Zimbabwe has a rich cultural heritage, with influences from the Shona and Ndebele people. Zimbabwean culture is characterized by its traditional music (such as mbira music), intricate stone sculptures, traditional ceremonies (like the Bira ceremony), and the majestic ruins of Great Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    These descriptions provide only a glimpse into the diverse cultures found across Africa. It's essential to note that each country and region within Africa has its own unique cultural practices, languages, traditions, and history, contributing to the rich tapestry of African cultures.
    Cultures Around the World.... "The role of culture is that it’s the form through which we as a society reflect on who we are, where we’ve been, where we hope to be" African cultures: Africa is a vast and diverse continent with a multitude of cultures, each with its own unique traditions, languages, art forms, and customs. Here are some examples of African cultures: West African Cultures: Nigerian Culture: Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, each with its distinct culture. Nigerian culture is known for its diverse traditional music (like Afrobeat and Highlife), vibrant festivals (such as the Eyo Festival and Durbar Festival), colorful traditional clothing (like the agbada and gele), and rich culinary traditions. "A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people" Senegalese Culture: Senegal is renowned for its vibrant music scene, particularly Mbalax, as well as its traditional wrestling (Laamb), intricate textiles (like the colorful Senegalese wax prints), and traditional food like thieboudienne (a popular Senegalese fish and rice dish). East African Cultures: Kenyan Culture: Kenya is home to diverse ethnic groups such as the Kikuyu, Luo, Maasai, and many more. Kenyan culture is known for its traditional music (like Benga and Taarab), Maasai beadwork and distinctive attire, Swahili language, wildlife conservation efforts, and world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. Ethiopian Culture: Ethiopia has a rich cultural heritage that includes ancient traditions, distinctive music (such as Ethiopian jazz and traditional folk music), traditional dance (like the shoulder-shaking Eskista), unique cuisine (including injera and doro wat), and religious festivals like Timkat and Meskel. "If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him" North African Cultures: Egyptian Culture: Egypt has a civilization dating back thousands of years, influencing various aspects of its culture. Egyptian culture is known for its ancient monuments (such as the pyramids and temples), hieroglyphic writing, traditional music (like Arabic music and traditional instruments like the oud), and vibrant festivals like the ancient celebration of Sham El-Nessim. Moroccan Culture: Morocco is a fusion of Arab, Berber, and French influences. Moroccan culture is characterized by its vibrant markets (souks), traditional music (including Gnawa and Andalusian music), intricate architecture (like the beautiful mosques and riads), rich cuisine (including couscous and tagine), and traditional festivals like Eid al-Fitr and Fantasia. "You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them" Southern African Cultures: South African Culture: South Africa is a melting pot of various cultures, including Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, and many others. South African culture is known for its diverse languages, vibrant music (including genres like Kwaito and Afrikaans music), traditional dance (such as the energetic Gumboot dance), rich literary heritage (with writers like Nelson Mandela and Nadine Gordimer), and iconic landmarks like Table Mountain and Kruger National Park. Zimbabwean Culture: Zimbabwe has a rich cultural heritage, with influences from the Shona and Ndebele people. Zimbabwean culture is characterized by its traditional music (such as mbira music), intricate stone sculptures, traditional ceremonies (like the Bira ceremony), and the majestic ruins of Great Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These descriptions provide only a glimpse into the diverse cultures found across Africa. It's essential to note that each country and region within Africa has its own unique cultural practices, languages, traditions, and history, contributing to the rich tapestry of African cultures.
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  • Cultures Around the World....

    "Culture is the bedrock, the final wall, against which one leans one’s back in a godforsaken chaos".

    Southeast Asian Cultures:

    Thai Culture: Thailand's culture is known for its warm hospitality, Buddhism, ornate temples (like Wat Arun and Wat Phra Kaew), traditional dance (such as Thai classical dance and Khon), Muay Thai (Thai boxing), traditional festivals (like Songkran and Loy Krathong), and delectable cuisine with flavors like sweet, sour, and spicy.

    “Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail.”

    Indonesian Culture: Indonesia is a diverse archipelago with over 17,000 islands, each contributing to the country's cultural mosaic. Indonesian culture is characterized by its traditional dances (like Javanese and Balinese dance), shadow puppetry (wayang kulit), Gamelan music, batik art, diverse culinary traditions, and cultural celebrations like Galungan and Nyepi.

    "The triumph of culture is to overpower nationality"

    Vietnamese Culture: Vietnamese culture is heavily influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, and indigenous beliefs. Vietnamese culture is known for its traditional clothing (ao dai), water puppetry, Vietnamese folk music, Vietnamese cuisine (such as pho and banh mi), and important cultural festivals like Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year).

    "Our cultural diversity has most certainly shaped our national character".

    These descriptions provide just a glimpse of the rich and diverse cultures across Asia. Each country and region within Asia has its own unique traditions, customs, and history, contributing to the fascinating cultural tapestry of the continent.
    Cultures Around the World.... "Culture is the bedrock, the final wall, against which one leans one’s back in a godforsaken chaos". Southeast Asian Cultures: Thai Culture: Thailand's culture is known for its warm hospitality, Buddhism, ornate temples (like Wat Arun and Wat Phra Kaew), traditional dance (such as Thai classical dance and Khon), Muay Thai (Thai boxing), traditional festivals (like Songkran and Loy Krathong), and delectable cuisine with flavors like sweet, sour, and spicy. “Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail.” Indonesian Culture: Indonesia is a diverse archipelago with over 17,000 islands, each contributing to the country's cultural mosaic. Indonesian culture is characterized by its traditional dances (like Javanese and Balinese dance), shadow puppetry (wayang kulit), Gamelan music, batik art, diverse culinary traditions, and cultural celebrations like Galungan and Nyepi. "The triumph of culture is to overpower nationality" Vietnamese Culture: Vietnamese culture is heavily influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, and indigenous beliefs. Vietnamese culture is known for its traditional clothing (ao dai), water puppetry, Vietnamese folk music, Vietnamese cuisine (such as pho and banh mi), and important cultural festivals like Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year). "Our cultural diversity has most certainly shaped our national character". These descriptions provide just a glimpse of the rich and diverse cultures across Asia. Each country and region within Asia has its own unique traditions, customs, and history, contributing to the fascinating cultural tapestry of the continent.
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  • RESILIENCE-
    6 Underestimated Drivers of Well-Being.
    Research shows these psychospiritual forces may be critical for health.
    Reviewed by Kaja Perina

    KEY POINTS-
    Meaning, purpose, value, connection, resilience, and transcendence are key drivers of well-being.
    Research shows these psychospiritual forces may be critically important for decreasing risk of illness.
    When I was in graduate school studying world religion, philosophy, and psychology, I became intrigued by what, if anything, undergirds the world’s wisdom traditions. I had no interest in diluting them or melting them into one. I was more curious about what was beneath belief. After much research, I arrived at what I termed the Six Fundamental Human Desires. Taken together, they are what all the major traditions, each in their own way, using their own language, care about and try to make real for people’s lives.

    It turns out these desires can positively affect the body and mind as much as the spirit and soul.

    1. Meaning
    Meaning helps us to make sense of life and find significance in life. It satisfies our desire to have a life filled with understanding, awareness, peace, and satisfaction. Meaning helps us to see how we fit into the world, and that greatly shapes the stories we live by. Meaning gives us the sense that we, others, and certain things in life matter, which helps us to craft a rich and rewarding existence. Meaning gives us confidence that within each moment or each situation, there is something important and worthwhile that can orient us, carry us forward, and help us to be well.

    Research (Bigony & Keitel, 2020) shows that meaning-making can lessen the negative effects of people adjusting to and living with chronic illness. Studies (Fredricksona et al., 2013) also reveal that people who believe their existence has meaning have lower levels stress hormones and more favorable gene expression related to inflammation. Further research (Park, 2012) shows that meaning-making can positively influence the transition of cancer patients into longer-term survivorship and help people harness the will to live, which has been shown to contribute to longevity.

    2. Purpose
    Purpose grounds and motivates us, unifies our life, and directs us toward some ultimate concern or “North Star” around which we shape our lives. Purpose satisfies our desire to have a reason to get up in the morning and go to bed at night feeling as though we’ve done something important or worthwhile. Purpose gives us confidence that we have “miles to go before we sleep.”

    In a meta-analysis of 10 studies involving more than 136,000 people, researchers found that having purpose in life can lower your mortality risk by roughly 17% (Cohen et al., 2016) — about as much as following the much-celebrated Mediterranean diet. Another study (Boyle, 2012) found that if a 90-year-old with a clear purpose in life develops Alzheimer’s disease, that person will probably continue to function relatively well despite pathological changes in the brain.

    Research (Alimujiang et al., 2019) also shows that people who have high levels of purpose spend fewer nights in hospitals and have lower odds of developing diabetes and over two times lower risk of dying from heart conditions than others. People with purpose are similarly more likely to keep active, get their cholesterol levels checked, even undergo colonoscopies; they can also buffer stress better (Kim, 2014).

    3. Values
    Values help us determine what we give priority and precedence to, and what we pursue in life. Values satisfy our desire to have something to work for, find deserving, invest in, and live by. Values give us confidence that there are certain things we can always turn to and rely upon to keep our integrity intact and keep us headed in the right direction.

    Emotional or affective states, in particular the shame and guilt that often come from not living our values, can have a significant impact on health, illness, and health-related behaviors.

    Shame has been linked to high levels of stress-related hormones that can meaningfully impact the immune system. Shame has also been linked to high elevation of cytokine activity. Cytokines are signs in the body of inflammation, indicating that a disease process may be in progress. Toxic shame — different from ordinary shame, which passes in a day or a few hours — has been shown to result in substance abuse, eating disorders, and self-harm. One large-scale meta-analysis (Kämmerer, 2019) showed shame’s link with depression is especially strong. Shame has also been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS; Muscatello et al., 2016).

    Similarly, guilt is related to anxiety and depression, but also to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), insomnia, loss of appetite, stomach and digestion issues, and an overall dreary or “weighted down” feeling (Hotchkiss, 2013).

    4. Connection
    Connection helps us relate to and form relationships with others and the world around us. Connection satisfies our desire to bond and belong — to have a type of familial warmth and security. Connection gives us confidence in the very real power of trust, intimacy, community, empathy, and love.

    Connection is a critically important contributor to good health and longevity. According to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, numerous studies (2010) have shown that people who have satisfying relationships are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer. One study (Harvard Woman’s Health Watch, 2010) of more than 309,000 people, found that not having strong relationships increased the risk of premature death by 50% — that’s comparable to smoking as many as 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity. Another study (Berkman et al., 1979) showed that people who were disconnected from others were roughly three times more likely to die than people with strong social ties.

    Researchers (Ruberman, 1984) at the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York found that of 2,320 men who had survived a heart attack, those with strong bonds had only a quarter the risk of death within three years as those who lacked social connectedness. Researchers (Brummet, 2021) at Duke University Medical Center also found that connection can reduce deaths in people with serious medical conditions. Among adults with coronary artery disease, the mortality rate was nearly two and a half times higher among those who were socially isolated. Other studies show that connecting with others also helps relieve harmful levels of stress and inflammation, which can have an adverse effect on gut function, insulin regulation, and the immune system.

    In contrast, loneliness can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, elevated blood pressure, delayed recovery from injury, surgery, illness, cognitive and functional decline, including dementia, and a wide range of diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer (American Psychological Association, 2017).

    Overall, there is consistent and compelling evidence (Umberton & Montez, 2010) that connection contributes to lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships.

    5. Resilience
    Resilience shows us how to flourish, not despite but because of adversity, in a way that improves, rather than hurts our lives, and fortifies, rather than weakens our spirit. Resilience satisfies our desire to live fully, love deeply, and thrive—every day, come what may. Resilience gives us confidence that life is always worth living.

    More and more research shows that resilience can buffer various mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Resilience can also help offset factors that increase the risk of mental health conditions, such as being bullied or previous trauma.

    Resilience has been found to lower blood pressure; offset insomnia, heartburn, indigestion, and heart disease; and boost a weakened immune system (Harvard Health Publishing, 2017).

    The link to resilience and the immune system is particularly important. In one study (MentalHeath Net, 2023), depressed women suffering from breast cancer were found to have fewer immune system cells and weaker overall immune functioning when compared to non-depressed breast cancer sufferers. Because the job of the immune system is, in part, to hunt down and kill cancer cells, depressed breast cancer sufferers’ weaker immune function means that their bodies are less likely to be able to resist their cancers. Similarly, another study found that depressed bone marrow transplant patients were significantly more likely to die during the first post-treatment year than non-depressed transplant recipients. In a third study (McGowen, 2018) in adults with HIV, high resilience was related to a lower prevalence of depression, anxiety, and problems with ADLs.

    6. Transcendence
    Transcendence wakes us up to the fullness of life — to experience something greater than our daily to-do lists, something truly sublime or, for some, even the divine. Transcendence satisfies our desire for wonder and awe. Transcendence gives us confidence that there are things in life that will always inspire, encourage, humble, and excite us.

    Many people associate transcendence with religion and spirituality. Researchers (Mueller, 2001) at the Mayo Clinic concluded that religious or spiritual involvement is associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness), and less anxiety, depression, and suicide. Other studies have found that addressing a patient’s spiritual needs enhances recovery from illness.

    Frequent attendance at church, temple, mosque, or other spiritual gatherings may also improve health. For instance, in one study, religious or spiritual attendees were more likely to stop smoking, increase exercise, increase social contacts, and stay married. Multiple studies (Koenig et al., 2012; Strawbridge et al., 1997) also show that religiously inclined people live longer. Research at Duke University has similarly found that those who are religious have a strong internal sense of control, which can help people cope with depression and anxiety and deal better with adversity.

    Of course, you don’t have to be religiously inclined to benefit from the experience of transcendence. Research (Allen, 2018) at the University of California, Berkeley on the relationship of positive emotions and levels of proinflammatory cytokines found that awe, more than any other emotion, significantly reduced inflammation. As mentioned previously, proinflammatory cytokines are cell-signaling proteins that help to fight infection or injury. High levels of these cytokines have been linked to several chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. In this study, awe was the strongest predictor of lower IL-6 levels, a proinflammatory cytokine.

    Experiencing transcendence while in nature or viewing awe-inspiring images decreases sympathetic activity and increases parasympathetic activity, effectively switching our nervous system from a heightened state of arousal to a place of calm (Shiota, 2011). A study (Chirico, et al., 2018) with Virtual Reality stimuli found that looking at high, snowy mountains increased people’s mood and sense of awe, while viewing the Earth from space or a forest did not; the mountain scene also induced the highest level of awe, although the other stimuli also increased awe significantly.

    A study (Anderson et al, 2018) with military veterans and youth from underserved communities found that the transcendence and awe they experienced while whitewater rafting, significantly reduced stress and increased overall well-being. The effects continued to improve one week later. Researchers also found that on days participants spent time in nature, generally, they reported feeling more awe — as well as greater life satisfaction and well-being, suggesting that awe may be a crucial ingredient in nature’s restorative abilities.

    The connection of the body, mind, and spirit and its relation to well-being has been a topic of discussion throughout millennia. Today, a holistic biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health is increasingly finding its way into the mainstream, as individuals, families, and health and mental health providers recognize that just as we have basic physical needs, we also have fundamental human desires like meaning, purpose, value, connection, resilience, and transcendence that may be as important for decreasing the risk of illness and death and increasing overall health.
    RESILIENCE- 6 Underestimated Drivers of Well-Being. Research shows these psychospiritual forces may be critical for health. Reviewed by Kaja Perina KEY POINTS- Meaning, purpose, value, connection, resilience, and transcendence are key drivers of well-being. Research shows these psychospiritual forces may be critically important for decreasing risk of illness. When I was in graduate school studying world religion, philosophy, and psychology, I became intrigued by what, if anything, undergirds the world’s wisdom traditions. I had no interest in diluting them or melting them into one. I was more curious about what was beneath belief. After much research, I arrived at what I termed the Six Fundamental Human Desires. Taken together, they are what all the major traditions, each in their own way, using their own language, care about and try to make real for people’s lives. It turns out these desires can positively affect the body and mind as much as the spirit and soul. 1. Meaning Meaning helps us to make sense of life and find significance in life. It satisfies our desire to have a life filled with understanding, awareness, peace, and satisfaction. Meaning helps us to see how we fit into the world, and that greatly shapes the stories we live by. Meaning gives us the sense that we, others, and certain things in life matter, which helps us to craft a rich and rewarding existence. Meaning gives us confidence that within each moment or each situation, there is something important and worthwhile that can orient us, carry us forward, and help us to be well. Research (Bigony & Keitel, 2020) shows that meaning-making can lessen the negative effects of people adjusting to and living with chronic illness. Studies (Fredricksona et al., 2013) also reveal that people who believe their existence has meaning have lower levels stress hormones and more favorable gene expression related to inflammation. Further research (Park, 2012) shows that meaning-making can positively influence the transition of cancer patients into longer-term survivorship and help people harness the will to live, which has been shown to contribute to longevity. 2. Purpose Purpose grounds and motivates us, unifies our life, and directs us toward some ultimate concern or “North Star” around which we shape our lives. Purpose satisfies our desire to have a reason to get up in the morning and go to bed at night feeling as though we’ve done something important or worthwhile. Purpose gives us confidence that we have “miles to go before we sleep.” In a meta-analysis of 10 studies involving more than 136,000 people, researchers found that having purpose in life can lower your mortality risk by roughly 17% (Cohen et al., 2016) — about as much as following the much-celebrated Mediterranean diet. Another study (Boyle, 2012) found that if a 90-year-old with a clear purpose in life develops Alzheimer’s disease, that person will probably continue to function relatively well despite pathological changes in the brain. Research (Alimujiang et al., 2019) also shows that people who have high levels of purpose spend fewer nights in hospitals and have lower odds of developing diabetes and over two times lower risk of dying from heart conditions than others. People with purpose are similarly more likely to keep active, get their cholesterol levels checked, even undergo colonoscopies; they can also buffer stress better (Kim, 2014). 3. Values Values help us determine what we give priority and precedence to, and what we pursue in life. Values satisfy our desire to have something to work for, find deserving, invest in, and live by. Values give us confidence that there are certain things we can always turn to and rely upon to keep our integrity intact and keep us headed in the right direction. Emotional or affective states, in particular the shame and guilt that often come from not living our values, can have a significant impact on health, illness, and health-related behaviors. Shame has been linked to high levels of stress-related hormones that can meaningfully impact the immune system. Shame has also been linked to high elevation of cytokine activity. Cytokines are signs in the body of inflammation, indicating that a disease process may be in progress. Toxic shame — different from ordinary shame, which passes in a day or a few hours — has been shown to result in substance abuse, eating disorders, and self-harm. One large-scale meta-analysis (Kämmerer, 2019) showed shame’s link with depression is especially strong. Shame has also been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS; Muscatello et al., 2016). Similarly, guilt is related to anxiety and depression, but also to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), insomnia, loss of appetite, stomach and digestion issues, and an overall dreary or “weighted down” feeling (Hotchkiss, 2013). 4. Connection Connection helps us relate to and form relationships with others and the world around us. Connection satisfies our desire to bond and belong — to have a type of familial warmth and security. Connection gives us confidence in the very real power of trust, intimacy, community, empathy, and love. Connection is a critically important contributor to good health and longevity. According to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, numerous studies (2010) have shown that people who have satisfying relationships are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer. One study (Harvard Woman’s Health Watch, 2010) of more than 309,000 people, found that not having strong relationships increased the risk of premature death by 50% — that’s comparable to smoking as many as 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity. Another study (Berkman et al., 1979) showed that people who were disconnected from others were roughly three times more likely to die than people with strong social ties. Researchers (Ruberman, 1984) at the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York found that of 2,320 men who had survived a heart attack, those with strong bonds had only a quarter the risk of death within three years as those who lacked social connectedness. Researchers (Brummet, 2021) at Duke University Medical Center also found that connection can reduce deaths in people with serious medical conditions. Among adults with coronary artery disease, the mortality rate was nearly two and a half times higher among those who were socially isolated. Other studies show that connecting with others also helps relieve harmful levels of stress and inflammation, which can have an adverse effect on gut function, insulin regulation, and the immune system. In contrast, loneliness can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, elevated blood pressure, delayed recovery from injury, surgery, illness, cognitive and functional decline, including dementia, and a wide range of diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer (American Psychological Association, 2017). Overall, there is consistent and compelling evidence (Umberton & Montez, 2010) that connection contributes to lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships. 5. Resilience Resilience shows us how to flourish, not despite but because of adversity, in a way that improves, rather than hurts our lives, and fortifies, rather than weakens our spirit. Resilience satisfies our desire to live fully, love deeply, and thrive—every day, come what may. Resilience gives us confidence that life is always worth living. More and more research shows that resilience can buffer various mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Resilience can also help offset factors that increase the risk of mental health conditions, such as being bullied or previous trauma. Resilience has been found to lower blood pressure; offset insomnia, heartburn, indigestion, and heart disease; and boost a weakened immune system (Harvard Health Publishing, 2017). The link to resilience and the immune system is particularly important. In one study (MentalHeath Net, 2023), depressed women suffering from breast cancer were found to have fewer immune system cells and weaker overall immune functioning when compared to non-depressed breast cancer sufferers. Because the job of the immune system is, in part, to hunt down and kill cancer cells, depressed breast cancer sufferers’ weaker immune function means that their bodies are less likely to be able to resist their cancers. Similarly, another study found that depressed bone marrow transplant patients were significantly more likely to die during the first post-treatment year than non-depressed transplant recipients. In a third study (McGowen, 2018) in adults with HIV, high resilience was related to a lower prevalence of depression, anxiety, and problems with ADLs. 6. Transcendence Transcendence wakes us up to the fullness of life — to experience something greater than our daily to-do lists, something truly sublime or, for some, even the divine. Transcendence satisfies our desire for wonder and awe. Transcendence gives us confidence that there are things in life that will always inspire, encourage, humble, and excite us. Many people associate transcendence with religion and spirituality. Researchers (Mueller, 2001) at the Mayo Clinic concluded that religious or spiritual involvement is associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness), and less anxiety, depression, and suicide. Other studies have found that addressing a patient’s spiritual needs enhances recovery from illness. Frequent attendance at church, temple, mosque, or other spiritual gatherings may also improve health. For instance, in one study, religious or spiritual attendees were more likely to stop smoking, increase exercise, increase social contacts, and stay married. Multiple studies (Koenig et al., 2012; Strawbridge et al., 1997) also show that religiously inclined people live longer. Research at Duke University has similarly found that those who are religious have a strong internal sense of control, which can help people cope with depression and anxiety and deal better with adversity. Of course, you don’t have to be religiously inclined to benefit from the experience of transcendence. Research (Allen, 2018) at the University of California, Berkeley on the relationship of positive emotions and levels of proinflammatory cytokines found that awe, more than any other emotion, significantly reduced inflammation. As mentioned previously, proinflammatory cytokines are cell-signaling proteins that help to fight infection or injury. High levels of these cytokines have been linked to several chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. In this study, awe was the strongest predictor of lower IL-6 levels, a proinflammatory cytokine. Experiencing transcendence while in nature or viewing awe-inspiring images decreases sympathetic activity and increases parasympathetic activity, effectively switching our nervous system from a heightened state of arousal to a place of calm (Shiota, 2011). A study (Chirico, et al., 2018) with Virtual Reality stimuli found that looking at high, snowy mountains increased people’s mood and sense of awe, while viewing the Earth from space or a forest did not; the mountain scene also induced the highest level of awe, although the other stimuli also increased awe significantly. A study (Anderson et al, 2018) with military veterans and youth from underserved communities found that the transcendence and awe they experienced while whitewater rafting, significantly reduced stress and increased overall well-being. The effects continued to improve one week later. Researchers also found that on days participants spent time in nature, generally, they reported feeling more awe — as well as greater life satisfaction and well-being, suggesting that awe may be a crucial ingredient in nature’s restorative abilities. The connection of the body, mind, and spirit and its relation to well-being has been a topic of discussion throughout millennia. Today, a holistic biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health is increasingly finding its way into the mainstream, as individuals, families, and health and mental health providers recognize that just as we have basic physical needs, we also have fundamental human desires like meaning, purpose, value, connection, resilience, and transcendence that may be as important for decreasing the risk of illness and death and increasing overall health.
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  • FORGIVENESS-
    The Power of Forgiveness.
    New evidence from a randomized trial.
    Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

    KEY POINTS-
    Forgiveness can be understood as replacing ill will towards an offender with goodwill.
    Forgiveness is different from excusing, reconciling, or foregoing justice.
    A randomized trial of a forgiveness workbook indicates beneficial effects on mental health and flourishing.

    We have all been hurt by others. Sometimes those wounds last for a long time.

    It can be difficult to know how to deal with such hurts, or with those who have inflicted them. One approach is to bury and suppress the wounds, but often they then remain with us and re-emerge. Another approach is to let the wounds fester, to ruminate upon them and upon anger, and possibly seek revenge. Sometimes that revenge may help pacify one’s outrage; at other times it may not. An alternative approach to dealing with the hurts we all experience is forgiveness.

    We might define “forgiveness” as the replacement of ill will towards an offender with goodwill. Conceived as such, forgiveness is distinct from excusing or condoning the action; it is distinct from reconciliation; and it does not require foregoing justice. Forgiveness does not entail ignoring issues of responsibility and accountability. One can forgive an offender and hope for his or her ultimate good, while also pursuing a just outcome. One can also forgive an offender without necessarily seeking a restored relationship. This point is especially important in cases, say, of repeated violence or abuse, wherein the ending of the relationship may be best for the victim and offender alike. Likewise, because forgiveness and reconciliation are not identical, one can also forgive even if the offender has passed away. In conflicts, often both parties are hurt, and forgiveness can be helpful in both directions.

    Prior research on forgiveness has included randomized trials of forgiveness interventions and longitudinal analyses of observational data. This research has indicated that forgiveness lowers depression and anxiety. Forgiveness can, over time, help free the victim from the hurt, rumination, and suppression, and from the offender. And again, one can pursue forgiveness and justice simultaneously.

    Most prior forgiveness interventions have required many sessions with a trained therapist. In our most recent randomized trial study, we have examined whether the past 30 years of work in clinical psychology on forgiveness could be distilled into a self-guided workbook that could be effective at promoting forgiveness and improving mental health. If so, given the ease of dissemination of such workbooks, the public health consequences could be profound.

    REACH Forgiveness Model
    The workbook we studied employed Everett Worthington’s REACH model of forgiveness where each letter of REACH stands for a different part of the process:

    R: Recall the hurt and let the emotions associated with it surface; do not suppress them.
    E: Empathize with the offender, trying to understand their reasons for the action, without condoning the action or invaliding one’s feelings.
    A: Altruistic gift; realize that forgiveness is an altruistic gift that can be offered or withheld, and realize also that one has oneself sometimes done wrong and has been forgiven.
    C: Commit to forgive, to try to replace ill will with goodwill.
    H: Hold on to the forgiveness, realizing that it takes time for emotions to heal and that sometimes the anger will return.

    The workbook was developed by selecting the most effective exercises from prior research that could be completed in two to three hours, to help people who want to forgive but were having trouble doing so.

    Our Forgiveness Randomized Trial
    We carried out a waitlist randomized trial to examine the effectiveness of this forgiveness workbook. The study had about 4,500 participants in five relatively high-conflict countries: Columbia, South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

    In a waitlist randomized trial design, participants are randomized to receive the intervention either immediately, or after a delay (in this case, two weeks), and then outcomes are measured right before the second group gets the workbook. Given prior research on forgiveness, it seemed unethical to permanently withhold the workbooks from participants in the trial, so a waitlist design seemed best.

    Happily, the workbook was indeed effective at increasing forgiveness. Those who received the forgiveness workbook immediately reported experiencing higher levels of forgiveness after two weeks than those who were randomized to delayed receipt. Moreover, there was also evidence from the trial that the forgiveness workbook lowered depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms, and that it increased hope.

    There was also evidence that it increased various aspects of flourishing—happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and even a sense of financial security—as assessed by our flourishing measure. The formal paper on our randomized trial is currently under journal peer review, but given the importance of this work, and our upcoming forgiveness conference (described below), we decided to release a pre-print on the study and more details are available here.

    Public Health Implications
    Given the important effects of forgiveness on mental health and well-being, and the existence of an effectively costless, easily disseminated self-guided forgiveness workbook, forgiveness should arguably be considered a public health issue. The public health impact of a particular exposure or phenomenon is sometimes assessed as a function of how prevalent or common it is and the size of its effects on the outcomes that we care about.

    Something that is both common and has large effects on health outcomes will shape population health. On these grounds, forgiveness is important. The experience of being wronged is very common; and forgiveness, which can be fostered by the use of the workbook, can itself improve mental health and well-being.

    If the workbooks were disseminated in clinical, school, and workplace settings, and if local, national, and international efforts were made to promote forgiveness and utilize such resources, we argue that more people could forgive and reap the benefits of improved mental health. (The forgiveness workbook can be downloaded here and freely distributed. I have personally used it myself and have found it very helpful.)

    Difficult Questions, and Our Conference
    There are of course difficult moral questions around forgiveness that are important in their own right, but also important in thinking about forgiveness in the context of public health. Are there limits to forgiveness? What are the moral conditions under which forgiveness might be considered appropriate?

    While there is certainly no universal consensus, arguments have been put forward that, provided the victim does not deny the wrong that was done or its implications or deny or suppress feelings about it, forgiveness—understood as replacing ill will towards the offender with goodwill—can always be morally appropriate. Again, forgiveness does not entail foregoing justice, and this distinction is critical especially if forgiveness is promoted in clinical or community settings, and in thinking about the morality of forgiveness.

    But what if the wrongdoer does not acknowledge the wrong or does not repent? Forgiveness—understood as replacing ill will towards the offender with goodwill—can still take place. And such forgiveness may still help free the victim from the offender. Conversely, if something you say or do deeply hurts or offends another person, even if you believe you did nothing wrong, it can still be helpful to express sorrow for the other’s pain. In some cases, this itself might facilitate healing and might help the other person to forgive.

    These are, however, difficult questions, and to help try to address these, the Human Flourishing Program, in collaboration with Harvard’s Memorial Church, the Making Caring Common Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Catholic Forum, the Religion Conflict and Peace Initiative at Harvard Divinity School, and the Templeton World Charity Foundation, are hosting an Interdisciplinary Conference on Forgiveness to bring together scholars and practitioners from psychology, law, peace studies, philosophy, theology, and public health to ponder these and others important and difficult issues surrounding forgiveness. The conference will be held at Harvard University April 21-22, 2023, and is free and open to the public.

    Enmity and Love
    Forgiveness perhaps also points us towards the need for love within community, and a restoration of love when things have gone wrong. It arguably even points towards a need for a love of one’s enemies, of those who have a settled ill will towards oneself, or those towards whom one is inclined to have settled ill will.

    Our society has become increasingly polarized. We will not agree on everything, and those disagreements can be important. And yet, it is important also to recognize the humanity of those we disagree with, to understand those differences, and to work towards finding those aspects of what is good that we can agree on and seek together. We can at the same time seek to correct the other, while seeking to be corrected ourselves.

    There is a paradoxical logic of love for one’s enemies, and forgiveness facilitates this logic and love. By replacing ill will towards another with goodwill, forgiveness may prompt prosocial action that may itself propagate, thereby potentially helping to heal division. Love—love for one's enemy—seeks both the good of the other (sometimes including correction), but also, when possible, a desire for reconciliation. Love extends beyond even forgiveness. Our society needs to foster a greater love of neighbor, and love of enemy.

    People in many parts of the world right now are observing “Holy Week,” a remembrance of what Christians believe to be the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The account given in the Gospel of Luke is that Jesus, after having been nailed to a cross, cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I hope that we may embody that same spirit of forgiveness. However, may we do so also in full recognition that the other side may view us as offenders, as having nailed them to the cross. Amidst our difficulties and tensions, may we pursue a spirit of forgiveness that seeks understanding and love, peace and reconciliation.
    FORGIVENESS- The Power of Forgiveness. New evidence from a randomized trial. Reviewed by Jessica Schrader KEY POINTS- Forgiveness can be understood as replacing ill will towards an offender with goodwill. Forgiveness is different from excusing, reconciling, or foregoing justice. A randomized trial of a forgiveness workbook indicates beneficial effects on mental health and flourishing. We have all been hurt by others. Sometimes those wounds last for a long time. It can be difficult to know how to deal with such hurts, or with those who have inflicted them. One approach is to bury and suppress the wounds, but often they then remain with us and re-emerge. Another approach is to let the wounds fester, to ruminate upon them and upon anger, and possibly seek revenge. Sometimes that revenge may help pacify one’s outrage; at other times it may not. An alternative approach to dealing with the hurts we all experience is forgiveness. We might define “forgiveness” as the replacement of ill will towards an offender with goodwill. Conceived as such, forgiveness is distinct from excusing or condoning the action; it is distinct from reconciliation; and it does not require foregoing justice. Forgiveness does not entail ignoring issues of responsibility and accountability. One can forgive an offender and hope for his or her ultimate good, while also pursuing a just outcome. One can also forgive an offender without necessarily seeking a restored relationship. This point is especially important in cases, say, of repeated violence or abuse, wherein the ending of the relationship may be best for the victim and offender alike. Likewise, because forgiveness and reconciliation are not identical, one can also forgive even if the offender has passed away. In conflicts, often both parties are hurt, and forgiveness can be helpful in both directions. Prior research on forgiveness has included randomized trials of forgiveness interventions and longitudinal analyses of observational data. This research has indicated that forgiveness lowers depression and anxiety. Forgiveness can, over time, help free the victim from the hurt, rumination, and suppression, and from the offender. And again, one can pursue forgiveness and justice simultaneously. Most prior forgiveness interventions have required many sessions with a trained therapist. In our most recent randomized trial study, we have examined whether the past 30 years of work in clinical psychology on forgiveness could be distilled into a self-guided workbook that could be effective at promoting forgiveness and improving mental health. If so, given the ease of dissemination of such workbooks, the public health consequences could be profound. REACH Forgiveness Model The workbook we studied employed Everett Worthington’s REACH model of forgiveness where each letter of REACH stands for a different part of the process: R: Recall the hurt and let the emotions associated with it surface; do not suppress them. E: Empathize with the offender, trying to understand their reasons for the action, without condoning the action or invaliding one’s feelings. A: Altruistic gift; realize that forgiveness is an altruistic gift that can be offered or withheld, and realize also that one has oneself sometimes done wrong and has been forgiven. C: Commit to forgive, to try to replace ill will with goodwill. H: Hold on to the forgiveness, realizing that it takes time for emotions to heal and that sometimes the anger will return. The workbook was developed by selecting the most effective exercises from prior research that could be completed in two to three hours, to help people who want to forgive but were having trouble doing so. Our Forgiveness Randomized Trial We carried out a waitlist randomized trial to examine the effectiveness of this forgiveness workbook. The study had about 4,500 participants in five relatively high-conflict countries: Columbia, South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. In a waitlist randomized trial design, participants are randomized to receive the intervention either immediately, or after a delay (in this case, two weeks), and then outcomes are measured right before the second group gets the workbook. Given prior research on forgiveness, it seemed unethical to permanently withhold the workbooks from participants in the trial, so a waitlist design seemed best. Happily, the workbook was indeed effective at increasing forgiveness. Those who received the forgiveness workbook immediately reported experiencing higher levels of forgiveness after two weeks than those who were randomized to delayed receipt. Moreover, there was also evidence from the trial that the forgiveness workbook lowered depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms, and that it increased hope. There was also evidence that it increased various aspects of flourishing—happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and even a sense of financial security—as assessed by our flourishing measure. The formal paper on our randomized trial is currently under journal peer review, but given the importance of this work, and our upcoming forgiveness conference (described below), we decided to release a pre-print on the study and more details are available here. Public Health Implications Given the important effects of forgiveness on mental health and well-being, and the existence of an effectively costless, easily disseminated self-guided forgiveness workbook, forgiveness should arguably be considered a public health issue. The public health impact of a particular exposure or phenomenon is sometimes assessed as a function of how prevalent or common it is and the size of its effects on the outcomes that we care about. Something that is both common and has large effects on health outcomes will shape population health. On these grounds, forgiveness is important. The experience of being wronged is very common; and forgiveness, which can be fostered by the use of the workbook, can itself improve mental health and well-being. If the workbooks were disseminated in clinical, school, and workplace settings, and if local, national, and international efforts were made to promote forgiveness and utilize such resources, we argue that more people could forgive and reap the benefits of improved mental health. (The forgiveness workbook can be downloaded here and freely distributed. I have personally used it myself and have found it very helpful.) Difficult Questions, and Our Conference There are of course difficult moral questions around forgiveness that are important in their own right, but also important in thinking about forgiveness in the context of public health. Are there limits to forgiveness? What are the moral conditions under which forgiveness might be considered appropriate? While there is certainly no universal consensus, arguments have been put forward that, provided the victim does not deny the wrong that was done or its implications or deny or suppress feelings about it, forgiveness—understood as replacing ill will towards the offender with goodwill—can always be morally appropriate. Again, forgiveness does not entail foregoing justice, and this distinction is critical especially if forgiveness is promoted in clinical or community settings, and in thinking about the morality of forgiveness. But what if the wrongdoer does not acknowledge the wrong or does not repent? Forgiveness—understood as replacing ill will towards the offender with goodwill—can still take place. And such forgiveness may still help free the victim from the offender. Conversely, if something you say or do deeply hurts or offends another person, even if you believe you did nothing wrong, it can still be helpful to express sorrow for the other’s pain. In some cases, this itself might facilitate healing and might help the other person to forgive. These are, however, difficult questions, and to help try to address these, the Human Flourishing Program, in collaboration with Harvard’s Memorial Church, the Making Caring Common Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Catholic Forum, the Religion Conflict and Peace Initiative at Harvard Divinity School, and the Templeton World Charity Foundation, are hosting an Interdisciplinary Conference on Forgiveness to bring together scholars and practitioners from psychology, law, peace studies, philosophy, theology, and public health to ponder these and others important and difficult issues surrounding forgiveness. The conference will be held at Harvard University April 21-22, 2023, and is free and open to the public. Enmity and Love Forgiveness perhaps also points us towards the need for love within community, and a restoration of love when things have gone wrong. It arguably even points towards a need for a love of one’s enemies, of those who have a settled ill will towards oneself, or those towards whom one is inclined to have settled ill will. Our society has become increasingly polarized. We will not agree on everything, and those disagreements can be important. And yet, it is important also to recognize the humanity of those we disagree with, to understand those differences, and to work towards finding those aspects of what is good that we can agree on and seek together. We can at the same time seek to correct the other, while seeking to be corrected ourselves. There is a paradoxical logic of love for one’s enemies, and forgiveness facilitates this logic and love. By replacing ill will towards another with goodwill, forgiveness may prompt prosocial action that may itself propagate, thereby potentially helping to heal division. Love—love for one's enemy—seeks both the good of the other (sometimes including correction), but also, when possible, a desire for reconciliation. Love extends beyond even forgiveness. Our society needs to foster a greater love of neighbor, and love of enemy. People in many parts of the world right now are observing “Holy Week,” a remembrance of what Christians believe to be the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The account given in the Gospel of Luke is that Jesus, after having been nailed to a cross, cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I hope that we may embody that same spirit of forgiveness. However, may we do so also in full recognition that the other side may view us as offenders, as having nailed them to the cross. Amidst our difficulties and tensions, may we pursue a spirit of forgiveness that seeks understanding and love, peace and reconciliation.
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