Forgiveness Is a Choice

Robert D. Enright, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and a professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has been a leader in the scientific study of forgiveness and its effects since 1985. Time magazine referred to him as "the forgiveness trailblazer." He is the author of more than 100 publications, including five books. In 2022, he received the American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology for his innovative work in forgiveness.  He and his colleagues have developed and tested a pathway to forgiveness that has helped incest survivors, and people in drug rehabilitation, in hospice, in shelters for abused women, and in cardiac units of hospitals, among others. His recent work has been in schools within conflict regions, such as Belfast, Northern Ireland, assisting teachers to deliver forgiveness programs to students.

Acknowledgments

I. Forgiveness is a Choice



Forgiveness: A Path to Freedom
What Forgiveness Is…and What It Is Not
Why Forgive…and the Consequences of Not Forgiving

II. The Process of Forgiveness



A Map and Tools for Your Journey
Acknowledging Your Anger
Confronting the Depth of Your Anger
Committing to Forgive
Gaining Perspectives
Building Positive Feelings, Thoughts and Behaviors
Experiencing Discovery and Release From Emotional Prison
Saying "I Forgive You"

III. Going Deeper



More Questions to Help You Forgive
Helping Clients Forgive
Wanting to Be Forgiven
Reconciling

References
Index