STEPS TO FORGIVING
The following steps are all integral to forgiving:
- Acknowledge your anger and resentment.
- Acknowledge the hurt and pain it created.
- Acknowledge the fears and self-doubts that it created.
- Own any part you may have played in letting it occur or letting it continue.
- Acknowledge what you were wanting that you didn't get, and then put yourself in the other person's shoes and attempt to understand where he or she was coming from at that time, and what needs the person was trying to meet -- however inelegantly -- by his or her behavior.
Let go and forgive the person.