In fact, many people who wouldliketolet go of angerand forgive are stumped with the question ofhowto forgive someone.
Forgiveness is hard, especially when you feel like you were significantly wronged.
But learning how to forgive will be highly beneficial to your mental health in the long run.
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At a Glance
When youve been hurt, figuring out how to forgive someone can be difficult.
Luckily there are plenty of strategies to help.
It may help to express your feelings to the other person, but it also might not.
Exploring differentconflict resolutiontactics can help you plan this conversation.
It still may help to put your feelings into words as part ofletting go.
People dont always need to know that youve forgiven them.
Forgiveness is more for you than for the other person.
So try focusing on what you learned from the experience instead ofruminatingover negative thoughts and feelings.
It can also be helpful to write about something unrelated.
These strategies allow you to forgive and move on more easily.
Were they going through a particularly difficult time in their lives?
Have you ever made similar mistakes?
give a shot to remember the other persons good qualities.
Blanket forgiveness of someone who is continuing to hurt you isnt necessarily a good idea for your emotional health.
Its important to understand that forgiveness is not the same as condoning the offending action.
You dont need to hold a grudge so you can protect yourself.
Recap
It is important to protect yourself when you forgive someone.
This allows you to move on while still holding them accountable for their actions.
It also protects you from further harm.
This is particularly true if the offending acts were ongoing or traumatic.
2018;19(1):107-122. doi:10.1177/1524838016637079
