Forgiveness
“I forgive others when they upset me and/or when they behave badly towards me, and I use that information in my future relations with them.”
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What is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness means to extend understanding towards those who have wronged or hurt us. It means to let go. In many cases this is the letting go of some or all of the frustration, disappointment, resentment, or other painful feelings associated with an offense. Forgiveness, and the related quality of mercy, involve accepting the shortcomings, flaws, and imperfections of others and giving them a second (or third) chance. As the expression goes, it is letting bygones be bygones, rather than being vengeful. It is a process of humanizing those who have led us to feel dehumanized.
Letting go of guilt and anger is often difficult, but it is a powerful step toward healing. Forgiveness is not always easy. It may require you to confront emotions such as anger, guilt, and betrayal, but doing so can lead to emotional healing and growth. Letting go of a grudge can improve your health, bring peace to your heart, and create space for increased joy and connection in your lives. Sometimes, it also means having the courage to say "sorry" or to accept one.
It is important to distinguish forgiveness from:
condoning (removes the offense)
forgetting (removes the awareness)
reconciliation (restores the relationship)
Which Virtue Is This Strength?
Forgiveness is a strength within the virtue category of temperance, one of six virtues that subcategorize the 24 character strengths. Temperance describes strengths that help you manage habits and protect against excess. The other strengths in Temperance are forgiveness, humility, prudence, and self-regulation.
Temperance
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Forgiveness can contribute to productive interpersonal relationships, thriving teamwork, job satisfaction, personal morale, innovative problem-solving, a sense of flexibility when facing changes, and productivity.
These are some of the many benefits of developing your ability to practice forgiveness. It’s an ongoing journey that takes work, but the results often include increased connection, inner calm, and reduced grudge holding. When you begin to understand how forgiveness works, you may know more about your emotions, the people around you, and what you truly need to move forward.
Learn how to activate this strength and all of your other strengths with your personalized Total 24 Report.
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