International Forgiveness Institute https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html I have an insight, and I wonder what you think about it. We have a family member who is quite alienated from the rest of our family. This is the case because he is rather rude and hurtful to others. I am wondering whether he needs to forgive himself first, because my conjecture is that he doesn’t like himself. If he forgives himself first, do you think he might stop the rudeness? A Podcast and Book on Revenge and Forgiveness I have to forgive two people. One is at my place of employment, and the other is a family member. My anger and discontent are rather high toward the person at work. My negative emotions are far less toward the family member.  Who should come first in my forgiveness process? I am in a rather caustic group, with lots of criticism leveled against others outside the group. It is beginning to wear on me, and I am thinking of leaving the group. What do you think: would it be better for me to stay and try to help them bring down their level of criticism toward others, or should I leave? Should I forgive myself when falsely accused?  My partner got really upset when the clothes dryer stopped working, and he needed a shirt that was in there.  Of course, I am not responsible for a machine’s mechanical failure, but I received some intense emotion from him.  Under such a circumstance, should I engage in self-forgiveness? Contact Us How Forgiving Am I? IFI Audio Visual Resources Forgiveness Education Dr. Enright’s Essays on Forgiveness are ‘Essential Reads’! A Promise Kept I kind of like the idea of forgiveness, but I am a bit ambivalent about it.  Can you provide some written material for me so that I can make a more informed decision? I heard that you did a study of forgiveness for people in hospice, but I cannot locate the reference.  Would you please provide that for me?  Thank you in advance. If I no longer feel rage at the one who hurt me, does this mean I have forgiven? If I engage in the Process Model of forgiveness, is it okay to go back to an earlier unit if I think I need more work on it?  For example, I began to have compassion on the one who hurt me, and so I went on to “standing in the pain.” After a while, my compassion began to wane.  I think I should go back to that before moving ahead. What do you think? Peace Builders I want to introduce forgiveness education to my school.  What is one reference you would suggest that I share with my principal? Home I have fibromyalgia. I heard that you have a journal article stating that a forgiveness intervention can help with those symptoms.  Would you please share the reference to that article with me? Our Team Forgiveness Research Forgiveness for Individuals: Learning to Forgive Others Benefactors, Investors and Board of Directors There are moments when I simply don’t want to forgive. When I feel so indifferent about forgiving, what do you recommend? What do meta-analyses say about the number of forgiveness sessions? How many tend to lead to success? Dr. Enright’s Psychology Today Post for June 2026 Gets Essential Read Status How open should I be with my children (ages 9 and 11) regarding my father (their grandfather)?  He was abusive, and we are estranged from him.  Do I give my children details about the injustice as I start to walk the path of forgiveness? How do you correct a young child who equates forgiveness with revenge?  You discuss how a child learns forgiveness from their family, friends, and someone of higher authority. What must a child learn specifically as the first step toward understanding forgiveness? In a society that places a greater emphasis on “boundaries” and “cutting people off,” is it beginning to be seen as a weakness rather than a virtue to forgive people for unfair treatment? Thank you again for clarifying the concept of inherent worth.  Can you suggest a picture book to help children grasp the idea of inherent worth? What is one cognitive skill you want to see in primary school children who are beginning to learn about forgiveness? Thank you for clarifying the importance of having children learn about inherent worth.  Can this actually be taught with children as young as six or seven years old? How should l correct a 6-year-old child who equates forgiveness with revenge? Can you please provide a reference in which you studied young children learning about forgiveness with the use of the concept of inherent worth? Recent Journal Publications with Authors from Our International Forgiveness Institute, Inc. During your forgiveness interviews with children and adults, what has surprised you the most? We Have Created a Diversion Toward Forgiveness Sometimes I start the process of forgiveness, but then change my mind and I am not ready any more to forgive. Is this ok? I mean, I almost feel forced to continue the process, especially if I tell the other person that I will try to forgive him. I don’t like to feel forced into something as personal as forgiveness. An Examination of Forgiveness in the Context of Armed Conflict Essays on Forgiveness at the Psychology Today Website Of the things children are taught about forgiveness, what do you find to be something to avoid?  Perseverance & Forgiveness Anger is a normal reaction to injustice, right? Do we repress some anger when we forgive? It appears that my mother has a lot of guilt. Now she constantly asks me to forgive her for the way she raised me as a child. Actually, this is not a huge concern for me because she did well as my mom. So, even though I don’t believe she did anything wrong, should I tell her that I forgive her? You claim that forgetting can be harmful on page 2 of your book, Forgiveness Is a Choice. As I move past the painful, unfair circumstance, I believe that forgetting can be beneficial. Could you please elaborate? When you use the term “the forgiveness triangle,” what does that mean? Is it psychologically impossible to “forgive and forget”? Wouldn’t we be eliminating an important lesson in self-protection if we truly succeeded in forgetting the unfair treatment? If everyone in the world found a way to control excessive anger, do you think forgiveness then would become unnecessary in the world? Our Forgiveness Blog