How to forgive?

Forgiveness is the mental, emotional and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation or anger against another person for a perceived offence, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. This definition, however, is subject to much philosophical critique. Forgiveness may be considered simply in terms of the person who forgives, in terms of the person forgiven and/or in terms of the relationship between the forgiver and the person forgiven. In some contexts, it may be granted without any expectation of compensation, and without any response on the part of the offender (for example, one may forgive a person who is dead). In practical terms, it may be necessary for the offender to offer some form of acknowledgement, apology, and/or restitution, or even just ask for forgiveness, in order for the wronged person to believe they are able to forgive.

The first thing to do is to ask God for forgiveness and then follow the steps:
Steps
1
Step One
Think about what happened.
2
Step Two
Acknowledge all of your feelings. There is often anger lurking behind any hurt or sadness you might feel.
3
Step Three
Express your feelings - write them out, talk to a friend or simply allow yourself to feel what you feel.
4
Step Four
Accept responsibility for your own emotions. Although you were wronged and your emotions may be justified, it is still up to you to decide when you're ready to stop feeling angry or upset.
5
Step Five
Talk to the other person about the behavior that upset you and how it made you feel. The odds are that you won't feel truly ready to forgive until you know this person has heard and understood your perspective.
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Step Six
Try to understand the other person's perspective, even if you don't really agree with it.
7
Step Seven
Rebuild trust in the relationship. Make agreements about acceptable future behavior whenever appropriate.
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Step Eight
Make the decision to forgive, and communicate your forgiveness to the other person. Once you've done this, make every effort to move on and let it go completely.
Tips & Warnings
· You can forgive someone without condoning his or her behavior; forgiveness isn't the same thing as approval.
· Avoid a defensive reaction by first venting your emotions outside the presence of the wrongdoer - this will help the interaction to be more productive.
· Wait until you are truly ready to forgive. Respect your feelings and take all the time you need.