Is it selfish of me to forgive others for my own benefit?
There is a significant difference between what forgiveness is and why a person might be motivated to forgive. When you forgive others, you deliberately show some kind of goodness to that person. Therefore, forgiveness in its essence is for the other person. If you want to forgive for your own benefit, this is a consequence of forgiving. If you forgive to feel better, this is not dishonorable. You still are forgiving (in its essence) by being good to the other, and this is not a self-interested or selfish activity. Forgiving, for example, as a consequence of being free from anger, is not selfish either. Further, as you continue to forgive, your motivations may broaden so that your interest is not only self-care but also care for the one who acted unfairly.
