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The Forgiving Life

How Forgiveness Benefits Individual, Family, and Community Health

Relationships
Five Approaches for Conquering a Partner's Selfishness

Robert Enright Ph.D. on February 23, 2024

Be encouraged if your partner frustrates you by showing selfishness. This is different from narcissism, which is more entrenched. Selfishness can changed by practicing generosity.

Be encouraged if your partner frustrates you by showing selfishness. This is different from narcissism, which is more entrenched. Selfishness can changed by practicing generosity.

Forgiveness
Is Forgiveness Against Our Human Nature?

Robert Enright Ph.D. on January 22, 2024

If the essence of humanity is the survival of the fittest, then forgiveness might be a bad move. Yet, what if humanity is much more than one's position in the dominance hierarchy?

If the essence of humanity is the survival of the fittest, then forgiveness might be a bad move. Yet, what if humanity is much more than one's position in the dominance hierarchy?

Forgiveness
Is Forgiveness Incomplete If an Offender Rejects It?

Robert Enright Ph.D. on December 19, 2023

Have you ever worked hard to forgive someone, only to be met with a blank stare or rejection? Take heart if this occurred, because you likely have done your best.

Have you ever worked hard to forgive someone, only to be met with a blank stare or rejection? Take heart if this occurred, because you likely have done your best.

Bullying
Emotional Healing From Peers During the "Old School Days"

Robert Enright Ph.D. on November 24, 2023

We often consider our past to be over. Yet, when bullied in adolescence, we can develop a low self-image, lasting for years. Is it time for you to restore a positive self-image?

We often consider our past to be over. Yet, when bullied in adolescence, we can develop a low self-image, lasting for years. Is it time for you to restore a positive self-image?

Forgiveness
How Daughters Can Heal From Their "Mother Wound"

Robert Enright Ph.D. on October 26, 2023

Without consistent nurturance from her mother, a daughter can grow to adulthood with discontent. Can a close other detect the pattern and assist in her healing?

Without consistent nurturance from her mother, a daughter can grow to adulthood with discontent. Can a close other detect the pattern and assist in her healing?

Forgiveness
4 Exercises for Cultivating the Mind of Forgiveness

Robert Enright Ph.D. on September 28, 2023

When hurt by others, we have to resist the tendency to define that person by the unjust behaviors against us. Widening the lens through which we view this person can help us heal.

When hurt by others, we have to resist the tendency to define that person by the unjust behaviors against us. Widening the lens through which we view this person can help us heal.

Forgiveness
When You Should Forgive Yourself and When You Don't Need To

Robert Enright Ph.D. on August 28, 2023

Self-forgiveness is both a controversial and a delicate matter. When is it good to forgive yourself? And when is it best to avoid doing this? We examine 5 points on the matter.

Self-forgiveness is both a controversial and a delicate matter. When is it good to forgive yourself? And when is it best to avoid doing this? We examine 5 points on the matter.

Forgiveness
What You Might End up Learning About Humanity as You Forgive

Robert Enright Ph.D. on July 26, 2023

As you examine what forgiveness is and practice it, you might begin to see that your current views of persons, including your perception of yourself, might change for the better.

As you examine what forgiveness is and practice it, you might begin to see that your current views of persons, including your perception of yourself, might change for the better.

Forgiveness
How Does Forgiving Cure One's Resentment?

Robert Enright Ph.D. on June 22, 2023

When a person is treated unjustly, resentment can be like a constant drip of water onto the heart. Forgiving shuts off the drip, restoring psychological health.

When a person is treated unjustly, resentment can be like a constant drip of water onto the heart. Forgiving shuts off the drip, restoring psychological health.

Forgiveness
14 Popular Criticisms of Forgiveness

Robert Enright Ph.D. on May 10, 2023

There is a consensus building that forgiving others is inappropriate and perhaps even harmful. If this is true, then the arguments should stand up to examination.

There is a consensus building that forgiving others is inappropriate and perhaps even harmful. If this is true, then the arguments should stand up to examination.

Forgiveness
Be Wary of Quick-Fix Forgiveness

Robert Enright Ph.D. on February 10, 2023

If you truly want to forgive someone who deeply hurt you, beware of the new advice, which reduces forgiveness to something quick, relatively smooth, and painless, which it is not.

If you truly want to forgive someone who deeply hurt you, beware of the new advice, which reduces forgiveness to something quick, relatively smooth, and painless, which it is not.

Forgiveness
How Forgiving a Person and Transcending Your Anger Differ

Robert Enright Ph.D. on October 18, 2022

Popular views of forgiveness center on transcending anger. As you stop being angry, the other has no power over you. Yet forgiving is far more than waving goodbye to your anger.

Popular views of forgiveness center on transcending anger. As you stop being angry, the other has no power over you. Yet forgiving is far more than waving goodbye to your anger.

Narcissism
Can Affirmation in Therapy Worsen Narcissism?

Robert Enright Ph.D. on September 20, 2022

A counselor's affirming the client's feelings and the client as a person is important. Yet, the counselor needs to carefully separate affirming feelings and the causes of them.

A counselor's affirming the client's feelings and the client as a person is important. Yet, the counselor needs to carefully separate affirming feelings and the causes of them.