those who hold resentments. The first study to look at how forgiveness improves physical health discovered that when people think about forgiving an offender it leads to improved functioning in their cardiovascular and nervous systems. Another study at the University of Wisconsin found the more forgiving people were, the less they suffered from a wide range of illnesses. The less forgiving people reported a greater number of health problems. The research of Dr. Fred Luskin of Stanford University, and author of the book Forgive for Good presented evidence that forgiveness can be learned (i.e. can be a teachable skill, with practice) based on research projects into the effects of teaching forgiveness: giving empirical validity to the concept that forgiveness is powerful as well as excellent for your health. In three separate studies, including one with Catholics and Protestants from Northern Ireland whose family members were murdered in the political violence, he found that people who are taught how to forgive become less angry, feel less hurt, are more optimistic, become more forgiving in a variety of situations, and become more compassionate and self-confident. His studies show a reduction in experience of stress, physical manifestations of stress, and an increase in vitality. Ideas about what forgiveness is not Forgiveness is not condoning Forgiveness is not forgetting Forgiveness is not excusing (i.e. making reasons to explain away offender's responsibility or free will) Forgiveness doesn't have to be religious or otherworldly Forgiveness is not minimizing your hurt Forgiveness is not reconciliation (i.e. reestablishing trust in the relationship) Forgiveness is not denying or suppressing anger; rather its focus is on resentment.—in particular, in order to forgive it is healthy to acknowledge and express negative emotions, before you can even forgive Forgiveness is not ignoring accountability or justice—in particular, punishment and recompensation are independent of the choice to forgive (you can forgive, or not forgive, and still pursue punishment and/or recompensation, regardless) Forgiveness is not pardoning; it cannot be granted or chosen by someone else Emotional forgiveness is not the same as decisional forgiveness or the expression of forgiveness. Expressing emotions (i.e., "I am angry at you" or "I forgive you") is not the same as genuinely having or experiencing the emotions (i.e., people can deny, mistake, or lie about their emotional experience to another person while genuinely feeling something else instead) Although heavily debated, emotional forgiveness is for you, not the offender (i.e., unless