From a psychological perspective, healing often begins with creating safety — removing yourself from what (or who) is causing harm. Only then does your nervous system start to settle. When we’re no longer under threat, the brain can shift from survival mode (fight, flight, freeze) into healing mode (rest, repair, reflection).

From a neuroscience perspective, distance reduces the constant flood of stress hormones like cortisol. This gives the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that helps us see context, nuance, and perspective — room to come back online. That’s why it can feel easier to empathize with the pain behind someone else’s actions after we’ve stepped out of the line of fire.

In other words: healing first, forgiveness (if it comes) later. 💛