If you and I can agree that being a human being is basically a good thing, then we can talk about our lives being even better by being even more human. We can talk about what "humanizes" and what "dehumanizes." What humanizes us is good, because it levels up the good things about being human. … Continue reading How to Use Forgiveness for Staying Human
relationships
Forgiveness Keeps the Sanctity of Your Relationships
Every evening, a rabbit we came to name "Francis" makes its rounds through the pastures. The rabbit has figured prominently in the mythology of many cultures, including the Ojibwe and Dakota cultures indigenous to our part of Central Minnesota. Seeing Francis is an opportunity to experience a long time historical and important spiritual legacy related … Continue reading Forgiveness Keeps the Sanctity of Your Relationships
Podcast: Speaking of Faith, Speaking of Forgiveness
In the latest episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud podcast Speaking of Faith, Tom Delaney, a Secular Franciscan, educational psychologist, and mental and behavioral health advocate explains forgiveness as both a gift and a process that integrates wrongdoing into one’s life story. He shares how forgiveness can offer health benefits and allows us to … Continue reading Podcast: Speaking of Faith, Speaking of Forgiveness
How to Improve Your Digital Wellness and Life Wellbeing with Better Friendships
This article is for Catholics and others who want to improve their digital wellness (personal use of the internet, technology, social media, artificial intelligence, etc.) and life wellbeing. Wellbeing or wellness is explained as having eight dimensions. Friendships are explained as important to at least three of those dimensions: the social, emotional and spiritual dimensions. … Continue reading How to Improve Your Digital Wellness and Life Wellbeing with Better Friendships
Little Flowers: Forgiveness and Liberation in Captivity
(photo: Robben Island Prison, Michael Coghlan, 2011) Storytelling is a way to do a few important things. Telling a story is a way of teaching, such that a person gains an awareness of something, or an understanding, insight, or new point of view -- the things we associate with instruction and learning in general. Because … Continue reading Little Flowers: Forgiveness and Liberation in Captivity
Forgiveness: Heal your worldview, heal yourself!
(photo: Alex Knight, 2016) In important ways, the world we see is a reflection of ourselves. What we see is a reflection of what we are looking for, what has become important to us, what we choose to pay attention to, as well as how we think and feel about our prior experiences of the … Continue reading Forgiveness: Heal your worldview, heal yourself!
Forgiveness is a Constant Invitation to Rebirth in Love
Today's Liturgy of the Word includes a reading from the Gospel of Luke (17:1-6) that is a cornerstone for forgiveness as Christian faith in action. In this section of the gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples: If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.And if he wrongs you seven times in one … Continue reading Forgiveness is a Constant Invitation to Rebirth in Love
Acceptance and Self-Forgiveness: Keys to Personal Growth After Trauma
(art: Le Bal Bullier, Sonia Delaunay, 1913) Research continues to confirm the important role of forgiveness and forgiveness processes for persons recovering from traumatic experiences, and for personal growth after traumatic experiences (post-traumatic growth, or "PTG"). In a recent article published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice, researcher Margaret Poandl and colleagues (2025) at Virginia Commonwealth … Continue reading Acceptance and Self-Forgiveness: Keys to Personal Growth After Trauma
Recognizing Hidden Anger is Step #1 in Forgiveness
(art: Hope, George Frederick Watts, 1886) Anger is a normal and temporarily helpful response to a hurtful event. As an emotion, anger can help us summon the energy to protect ourselves in a situation, or to hastily remove ourselves from a situation even if it means needing a burst of exertion to get past barriers. … Continue reading Recognizing Hidden Anger is Step #1 in Forgiveness
Can forgiving be harmful?
(photo: Hartmann Linga, 2025) Forgiveness researcher Robert Enright has published a new piece in Psychology Today examining questions and criticisms focused on whether forgiveness can be harmful. Enwright developed the Guideposts for Forgiving framework and process that is integrated in Live and Forgive presentations, guided retreats, small group series and wilderness walks. In the article, … Continue reading Can forgiving be harmful?
Live and Forgive 