How to Forgive a Family Member

To rise above family conflict, tension, anger or hurt requires the process of forgiving. This means letting go of the offense by letting in wellbeing through love. To forgive enables families to come together. The process to forgive offers both inner healing for the offended while removing guilt and sorrow for the offender.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Think how we all disappoint someone at sometime within the family. Forgiveness allows putting an unpleasant situation behind us. Many times, it's not easy to do, but it remains the best solution for mending.
2. Let time pass to get over the emotional elements. It's often hard to think of forgiving a member of the family when close to the event. Harboring anger and bitterness hurts yourself as well as others.
3. Bring yourself to a point when you're able to forgive out of decision and not feeling. The timing of healing varies among people and situations, but its arrival makes for genuine forgiveness.
4. Talk with the offending family member when you feel the time has arrived for constructive dialog. Discuss the troubles the offense caused you or family members, love for the person and a need to apologize or to accept apology. Forgiving works best when both parties come to terms.
5. Distance yourself from mentally reliving the offending event. Forgiving a family member means putting a period behind the offense and not bringing it up as a hurtful weapon against the forgiven.
6. Forgive even if a family member doesn't want it. Do your part to protect the wellbeing and personal quality of your life.