When I looked up the definition of forgiveness, this was what Google replied.
forgiveness /fəˈɡɪvnɪs/ noun
- the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.
This really doesn’t explain much, now does it.
Psychologists usually define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.
Some more definitions could be:
Lovingly giving up your right to hurt someone, for hurting you.
Accepting the hurt and allowing it inside yourself as an experience needed for your being to evolve further.
Forgiveness is releasing or letting go at a sub conscious level.
Just as important as defining what forgiveness is, it is also important to know what forgiveness is not.
When you forgive, you do not discount or deny the seriousness of a wrong against you. It does not mean forgetting, nor does it mean condoning or excusing the hurt or offence. Your relationships may improve on forgiving someone but you are not obliged to reconcile or release from legal bindings.
What forgiveness does is brings peace to the forgiver. It releases him or her. It actually empowers the forgiver by recognizing and acknowledging the emotional pain endured without letting that pain define them, enabling them to heal and move on. Deep rooted grudges manifest themselves over time as sickness in the body. Forgiveness has nothing to do with the offender. It is only to the advantage of the forgiver.
Here are 9 Steps to forgiveness by Fred Luskin, a pioneer in the science and practice of forgiveness.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_is_forgiveness
Please reach out for more information.I am an I.C.F. Certified Executive Coach and founder of www.talentpowerpartners.com . You can reach me at bhavnadalal@gmail.com.