As a BPO service or someone from the service industry, we often forget the value of ethics. The element makes us human and reminds us to behave in a way that is acceptable for other humans. When we are unwilling to forgive, it has adverse effects on our health, according to certain observations. When workflow depends more and more on smoother dealings, the importance of looking past one’s mistake becomes all the more critical.

Today it gives me great pleasure to discuss the human aspect of business dealings and interactions. It must be part of the winning strategy. When you forgive a colleague, friend, or a family member, it takes you further into a relationship making it firmer, deeper and stronger. It is easier said than done but worth a try even if we develop a knack of failing at it.

When we don’t forgive and hold on to those negative feelings of anger and anguish, it can be damaging to our health.

Learn to Let Go

When we learn to forgive, it means we are allowing ourselves to breathe in freedom. To let go is to be free.

“Forgiving a person who is the reason behind your current state is not easy. However, staying in the traumatic past with conflict and lots of pain can fill your mind with negativity and bottled-up anger,” the gist of what Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, co-director of the Initiative on Health, Religion, and Spirituality at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health said.

The same applies to business relationships. When we run a business, circumstances may occur that lead to blockage of communication between business partners; the point at which we must exercise the power of forgiveness. When we pay heed to forgiveness rather than revenge, we start healing since forgiveness works in mysterious ways. Escalating things is only regrettable.

We come across communication barriers when the ego comes in way of the business, and then we are not the only ones on the losing side. According to Dr. Tyler, when we replace ill will with good will, we no longer wish bad things for that individual who caused us harm. Decisional forgiveness is often quicker and easier to achieve – we decide to forgive them.

Emotional forgiveness, on the other hand, is hard to achieve because we constantly have to tell ourselves to forgive when the thoughts of that particular offense return. And, it is common for those negative feelings to come back and bother us.

The best method to practice forgiveness is via REACH – Recall, Emphasize, Altruistic (selfless) gift, Commit, and Hold according to Harvard research.

1. Recall

The first step is to look at the wrongdoing objectively. Think about what happened without the negativity. The understanding of the events must come to us clearly. Visualize everything and look to resolve. Don’t push aside feelings of anger but let them play like a recorded video. Quantify and separate the feelings that are upsetting you.

2. Empathize

The next step is to empathize in which we try to understand the opposing point of view without minimizing the intensity of the wrongdoing. Sometimes the wrongdoing is not personal but happens due to something the person is dealing with at the time. People who attack others are in a state of worry, fear and hurt, says Dr. VanderWeele. They don’t plan to hurt you.

3. Altruistic (Selfless) Gift

The third quality to focus is practicing selfless attitude. It addresses our personal shortcomings. Remember a time when we did something wrong but were forgiven! It gives us objectivity for the present. How did that make us feel? It feels good when someone looks past our mistakes. Realizing the benefits of forgiving can help us do the same with others.

4. Commit

Commit to it. Forgiving others is like a drill we have to perfect. Write about forgiving that person in a journal or a letter that we don’t share with anyone. It is for our eyes only and I am starting to sound like a psychologist (Smiles).

5. Hold

The fifth attribute of this forgiveness spirit is to hold onto the analysis you use to forgive the person who hurts you.

Hold on to it once you forgive. Don’t let the hard work go in vain. Memories of that event tend to come back and forth. Your job is to make sure they don’t stay long enough. You can’t let them erase the complacent coating of forgiveness. Once you know how to deal with those memories, it is time to hold onto the positive energy rather tightly.

Health Benefits of Forgiveness

The absolute health benefits in light of observational studies and randomized trials are very satisfying.

You experience reduced –

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Aggression
• Substance abuse
• Smoking
• Drinking

In addition, you undergo higher levels of self-esteem and life satisfaction.

What is your idea of forgiveness?