Emotions Leave Imprints: My Journey of Fasting, Healing, and Forgiveness
Why I Took on a 72-Hour Fast
Just last week, I completed a 48-hour fast and, after two small meals, followed it immediately with a 72-hour fast. Until then, the longest I had ever gone without food was 24 hours. This was far beyond my comfort zone — and it pushed me physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
What led me to such a drastic step?
A Diagnosis I Didn’t Expect
Only days earlier, I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). I had taken a blood test at the suggestion of a colleague, who suspected coeliac disease after noticing a breakout on my neck. Instead, the words came back: “fatty liver disease.”
Although not considered severe — since the liver has an amazing ability to repair itself — the news shook me. I’ve always taken pride in living a healthy lifestyle:
Starting mornings with lemon water and celery juice
Eating mostly organic vegetables
Using natural remedies instead of medications
Avoiding vaccines and unnecessary pharmaceuticals
Yes, I have a sweet tooth and my diet wasn’t perfect. But this diagnosis still felt unexpected.
The Emotional Connection
In my healing work, I’ve learned that the liver is often linked to stored emotions — particularly anger, resentment, and unforgiveness. Deep down, I knew this was at the root of my condition.
The COVID years had been heavy. I carried anger, stress, and grief from personal experiences, as well as passionate opposition to mandatory workplace vaccinations. My sensitive nature absorbed the collective fear and turmoil around me. Add to this some painful personal events, and what emerged was a tangled web of negative emotions — much of it directed inward as unforgiveness toward myself.
In short, my body was storing unprocessed emotions.
Turning to Faith and Fasting
I knew this was more than a physical issue — it was also a spiritual one. Seeking guidance, I opened the Bible and landed on Joel, Chapter 1: “Sanctify ye a fast and return to the Lord with all your heart.”
That same day, I began a 48-hour water-and-salt fast. When I didn’t feel fully renewed, I followed it with a 72-hour fast.
The last 24 hours were the most intense. Weakness and nausea set in, and I eventually broke the fast slightly early with diluted coconut water. Yet in that struggle, something profound happened: a deep inner shift.
The Science Behind Fasting and Autophagy
Alongside the spiritual journey, fasting also triggers powerful processes in the body.
When we stop eating, insulin levels drop and the body switches from burning sugar to burning fat. By the 18–24 hour mark, the liver begins producing ketones — a cleaner, more efficient fuel.
Most importantly, fasting activates autophagy, a word that literally means “self-eating.” This is the body’s recycling system. Old proteins, damaged cell parts, and toxins are broken down and cleared out, while the raw materials are reused for repair and renewal.
Autophagy tends to rise significantly after a full day without food and can reach peak levels during a 72-hour fast. It is believed to support:
Cleansing the liver and other organs
Supporting the immune system by removing old or faulty cells
Renewing energy at a cellular level
Creating space for fresh growth once food is reintroduced
In other words, while my spirit was letting go of anger and unforgiveness, my body was also letting go of damaged and unnecessary parts of itself. The fast became a whole-being reset.
The Power of Forgiveness
Throughout the fast, I prayed for release:
Anger into forgiveness
Judgment into compassion
Pride into humility
And slowly, it lifted. Though my body ached, my spirit felt lighter and freer. When I finally broke the fast gently with miso soup and soft foods, I knew something inside me had changed forever.
Living in Renewal
Since that experience, I’ve felt a beautiful healing presence within me. I look forward to my next blood test, confident it will reflect the renewal I already sense.
More importantly, I’ve learned this: unforgiveness is poison to both soul and body. It keeps us trapped in the past, blocks our presence, and eventually shows up in our health.
If you notice anger, blame, irritability, or resentment within yourself — don’t ignore it. Instead, pause and reflect: what are you holding onto? Forgiveness is not a single act but a continuous process of awareness and letting go.
Notice whether the unforgiveness is toward another person, yourself, circumstances, or even the future. Once you’ve identified the root, become present in your body. That’s where forgiveness happens. The mind alone cannot do it — only the deeper presence within you can.
When you move from reaction into response, the grip of those emotions loosens. If you don’t, they can take over, weigh you down, and create a loop of continual negativity.
Final Lesson: Let It Go
I share my story with one hope — that it serves as a gentle reminder:
Whatever you’re holding onto, let it go.
Only then can true healing begin.
May your heart be light, your body renewed, and your spirit at peace. May you find the strength to release what no longer serves you, and the grace to step fully into healing and wholeness.