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Marlene Shiple, Ph.D. The Life Coach Dr.: Heal Your Past + Heal Your Thoughts + Heal Your Self => Heal Your Life!

Aug

14

Forgiveness: What Forgiveness Isn’t

Filed Under Emotional Healing, Life Coaching, Mental Healing, Spiritual Healing, Stress Remedies

In our last post, I shared thoughts about exactly what forgiveness is and what it means. Today, I want to take a little bit of time to look at what forgiveness isn’t and what it doesn’t mean. There are a number of common misconceptions when it comes to forgiveness.   It’s important to clear some of them up before moving on with this Challenge.

If you were a little reluctant about joining us — or aren’t quite ready to give it 100% — one or more of these misconceptions may be holding you back. Let me quickly run you through them so you gain an even-better understanding of what forgiveness is and isn’t all about.

1. Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean You Excuse And Condone

When we forgive people, we do it despite knowing that what they did was wrong and possibly hurtful. It does in no way mean that we excuse and condone their behavior or that we suddenly agree with them. Far from it. Instead we decide to forgive despite what they’ve done.

Forgiveness Challenge by Dr. Marlene Shiple, The Life Coach Dr.Forgiveness simply means that we choose to get past it and bring closure for our own sake. Forgiveness is much more about the person doing the forgiving than it is about the one being forgiven. It helps us to not only move past what happened, but also stop feeling grief, anger, and pain about it. It’s a very freeing experience. Forgiveness is about acceptance of things we cannot change, or over which we have no control.

2. Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean Giving Up

To forgive someone doesn’t mean that we’re giving up. We can still work on finding justice or continuing to work towards improving things and forgive at the same time. It simply means that we choose to let go enough that the anger, pain, and fear no longer paralyzes us.

Forgiveness is a very freeing feeling. It helps us move on with our lives.  It doesn’t mean that we’re giving in and suddenly going along with everything the other person does. In fact, we can fully forgive someone and continue to not spend time with them.

3. Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean You’re Weak

To be forgiving also isn’t a sign of weakness. Actually, the opposite is true. It takes a lot of strength and character to be able to forgive and move on. It doesn’t turn you into a pushover. It shows your strength of character and faith.

4. Forgiveness Doesn’t Let Them Get Away With Anything

Last, but not least, it’s important that, when you forgive people,  you not feel as though you let someone get away with anything. You can be forgiving and understanding and — at the same time — insist that they make up for what they’ve done.

I can’t stress enough how forgiveness really isn’t about the other person.  Forgiveness is about you.  Forgiveness is what’s going to help you

… all-the-while, still doing what you have to do to set things right.

To learn more about how to put Forgiveness into practice in your own life, get our Forgiveness Journal today at Amazon.com  Journaling can provide expert guidance to you as your proceed on the Path to Forgiveness!

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