Forgiveness is for ourselves not for the other person(s). If we are harboring resentments and grudges with people in our lives it's like pointing the finger and wanting them to suffer while we drink the poison. The hardest thing to do is forgive ourselves. Usually, we will blame then eventually forgive another person. Then we will blame and eventually forgive God. But ourselves? It's important to be gentle with ourselves for if we cannot forgive ourselves it becomes more difficult to forgive others. I have several different processes of forgiveness that will ultimately set us free! And, by the way, forgiveness does not mean forget. We learn from our own and others character defects. So sometimes it means we forgive and change the nature of our relationship with a person so we don't put ourselves in that or similar situations again.
It is so easy to hold on to anger, resentment, self-criticism, rage, guilt, shame, and negative views of ourselves and others, yet all the research suggests that letting go and engaging in forgiveness is the healthiest solution for the one who forgives. It is hard to learn to forgive the self and others, but I believe we are all capable of working through that which keeps us stuck in the painful feelings and moving to a place of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is difficult. It happens when you feel ready to move the hurt from the forefront to the background and it can be extremely freeing; it helps us to move on. Sometimes forgiveness is for yourself, and other times it's being able to forgive another - either expressed to them, or to them for yourself if that isn't possible.
We often carry a lot of resentment that is hard to know what to do with. We can work to uncover the ways in which we refuse to let go of certain feelings and resentments that, in the end, really just hurt us.
Psychologist, PsyD, Diplomate in CBT,NBCC Certified,Licensed Psychologist
Often described as the "Best Kept Secret of the Main Line." Dr. Zeiders is quietly popular for his insightful, effective psychotherapy, executive coaching and "fix it" abilities as a Psychologist. He treats anxiety, stress, shyness, depression, marital issues and addictions.
Anger is often the result of deep injustices. While the anger you feel may be justified, holding onto it is not healthy. It can eat away at a person like a cancer. By learning how to establish healthy boundaries in life and to forgive those who hurt you, you can live a happy life free of anger.
Licensed Professional Counselor, PhD, LPC. SATP, CSAT
For many people, anger is the source of depression, anxiety, addictions, etc. To resolve this, forgiveness is needed. When working with people struggling with anger, I help them through a process of forgiveness that has been scientifically proven to resolve anger and help people live more peaceful and happier lives.
Licensed Professional Counselor, DA, LPC, LCPC, CCTP, EMDR Clinician
Gentle loving kindness for yourself is a foundation for beginning to explore forgiveness, which, sometimes, involves giving up the wish that the past could be different. At your pace, we will explore issues surrounding the challenges that lead to difficult circumstances, betrayals or traumas. We will be cautious to avoid false forgiveness or a rush to forgive before you are ready, and begin to understand what happened to you and how you would like to process that experience.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSW, LCSW, CPTS, BCPCC
We all know and have heard that we should forgive one another right? Sounds really good but not many of us actually have the know-how to do so. Forgiveness is one of those things that is easier said then done. Sometimes we say we have forgiven someone, or think we have but then we hear the persons name, or we are reminded of what they did and instantly, we are full of anger! See what we really did was try to forget or put it out of our minds but that’s not forgiveness. I will teach you what forgiveness actually means, the “how-to” of forgiveness and how to transmute the energy of unforgiveness so you can be free once and for all of the emotional ties of anger and resentment and allow your mind and body to heal.