Get Out Of Your Own Way Ch: 15

What is the attribute of the strong, according to Mahatma Gandhi?

Arlene's lawsuit against her former company resulted in her former boss being fired.

Why do people often hang onto their anger?

Arlene was successful in her lawsuit against her former company.

What happens when we empathize with the person we perceive as our enemy?

What is the primary reason why we hold on to anger?

Forgiveness is a natural process that occurs without effort.

What happens when you answer the questions in the forgiveness process?

You should always focus on reasons not to forgive.

What is the ultimate goal of the forgiveness process?

What was Arlene's position at the manufacturing firm?

Arlene was calm and composed when she left the meeting.

What did Arlene do immediately after being escorted out of the building?

Arlene's anger and frustration had no impact on her children.

Arlene went on a shooting spree after leaving her job.

The Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a complete revenge, allowing us to move on and free ourselves from negative emotions.
Arlene, an accounting manager, stood up to her boss and the company's failure to enforce rules against sexual harassment, but was subsequently escorted out of the building.

The Consequences of Unforgiveness

Unforgiveness can lead to anger and frustration that can infect our world and affect those around us, including family members.
Holding onto anger can make us feel empowered, but it's a surefire way to hurt ourselves and others.

The Importance of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong, allowing us to move on and find balance in our lives.
Forgiveness is not about the person we're forgiving, but about freeing ourselves and moving forward.

Understanding the Enemy

To forgive, we need to understand the position of the person we perceive as our enemy.
Empathizing with others can help us make the discovery that we can't genuinely put ourselves in their shoes and be angry with them at the same time.

Ritual of Forgiveness

Forgiveness takes practice, but it's not as hard as we think.
Ritual is a wonderful way to forgive, and it works.
Action steps to forgive include thinking of the person we can't forgive, rating our anger, asking why they did what they did, and renouncing our anger out loud.

Quiz about the importance of forgiveness and how it relates to our thought processes. Learn how to let go of anger and practice mindfulness through ritual and action steps.