I have noticed when children fight and argue, they quickly become friends again and start their play again. It is remarkable how kids are able to forgive and forget; this is what makes them so vibrant and continuously happy. We as adults have a more difficult time in doing this practice.
We can forgive but do we really forget?
Holding on to how people have behaved in the past and to our negative emotions can cause great pain and affect our well-being. From an Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine perspective the anger we experience affects the liver, heart, and spleen. Our anger creates stagnation in the liver: this can cause irritability and frustration leading potentially to headaches, reproductive problems and outbursts of anger. By dwelling continuously about past hostilities our Spleen is affected causing fatigue, indigestion, and an inability to concentrate. Or one will experience insomnia or depression which is a manifestation of Heart and Shen (Spirit) being disturbed by obsessing on the past and being unable to forgive.
Acupuncture is a powerful therapy that can treat these symptoms and help the patient move beyond past insults or conflicts and regain their balance and flow of Qi. The acupuncture point Liver 3 or Tai Chong (“Great Opening” and Yin Tang (“Hall of Impression”) are excellent for letting go of past upsets. Chinese herbal medicine formulas, especially Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan or Heavenly Emperor Strengthen the Heart Pill, are very helpful to heal negative emotions.
As an acupuncturist and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Acupuncture Center of New Jersey in Morristown, I counsel my patients on what’s most important. When we forgive someone we are able to restore healthy balance and regain peace within ourselves. We can do meditation, yoga , acupuncture and take Chinese herbs to harmonize our emotions and body, clear our Shen and bring it back to balance, but then comes the question: can we forget?
I feel to forget is very difficult, even though you might have forgiven and resolved the peace within one’s self, after meeting the individual who caused harm those feelings return. I feel it is important to open one’s mind and look at the other person’s perspective. We do not know what surrounding circumstances makes another respond in a negative way, so one practice I find helpful is to remember the positives about the individuals and practice silence and not bring up the incident which would cause the negative feelings to rise again. Eventually with time the positives will allow you to forget and inner peace and happiness and physical wellness will return.
On that note I wish everyone a happy and blessed day!
Post by: Punita Jhangiani, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M., Dipl. A.B.O.R.M.
Specialties:
Acupuncture
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Fertility & Reproductive Wellness
Rehabilitation Therapies
Facial Rejuvenation
Contact us for an appointment at: (973) 984-2800