Even though my sister was cruel to me, I still feel good about her. Does this mean that I have completed the forgiveness process? To put it another way, is forgiveness just about having positive feelings, or is there more involved?
The process of forgiving someone does not conclude with positive emotions alone. Positive emotions can be passive in and of themselves, if you think about it. For instance, you sit on the couch and feel good about your sister, but you never approach her in a pleasant way. Forgiveness is a moral attribute that encompasses thinking, feeling, and acting (reasonably) toward the person who has wronged you. Reconciliation with the other person is possible when you provide forgiveness. Being receptive to reconciliation does not mean that people will automatically reunite. For reconciliation to truly take place, the other person must behave in a civil manner and not continually be hurtful.
Please follow and like us:
