According to psychologist Robert Enright, forgiveness is an active process.
So everyone can learn to forgive.
Those who can forgive contribute a lot to inner peace of mind – for themselves and for those around them.
Many people find it liberating when they are forgiven.
Because guilt is a heavy burden.
However, forgiveness is also beneficial for those who have been wronged.
Constant anger and negative thought spirals lead to constant stress, which promotes illness.
Learning to Forgive: There are four steps to being able to forgive
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Forgiveness is an active process that happens in four steps (symbol image).
© Monkey Business/Imago
A number of circumstances affect our ability to forgive hurts that have happened to us.
Because forgiveness is a complex and multi-layered process.
The psychologist Robert Enright has developed a model for this: How well we can forgive and how we can live with the wounds that have been inflicted on us depends on four steps.
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The psychologist Robert Enright from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison
was able to prove in various studies that forgiveness can have a healing effect.
According to the scientist, forgiveness can succeed with the help of a plan he has designed.
So forgiveness is an active process that can be learned.
The long road to forgiveness: letting go of painful feelings
The therapy model designed by Robert Enright consists of a total of 20 stages, which can be divided into four phases:
Conscious reliving
: In the first step, those affected relive the events that were inflicted on them.
Emerging feelings such as sadness, fear, anger and hatred should be consciously traced.
Choice to Forgive
: In order to break free from old, painful thought patterns, forgivers must actively choose to forgive the offender.
It can help to become aware of the advantages associated with this.
Understanding the Offender
: In order to forgive the offender, we must try to understand the circumstances.
Developing understanding in no way means apologizing for the crime.
Rather, it means accepting the injustice as such and renouncing revenge or retreat.
Accepting the wrongs done to one
: By letting go of painful feelings we can develop compassion, generosity and benevolence.
If you want to forgive, you have to actively work on it.
Nevertheless, forgiveness takes a lot of time, patience and does not happen overnight.
Doubts and mood swings are also normal in this process.
"Forgiveness is a goal that is constantly in motion," Robert Enright explains
to
Geo.de.
"Sometimes it seems close enough to touch, sometimes almost unattainable.
Progress and relapses alternate, that is completely normal.”
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
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