Emotion: Forgiveness

When you want to write the emotion forgiveness, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid emotion tells and immerse your readers in your story.

Forgiveness is the act of letting go of anger, resentment, or bitterness towards someone who has wronged or hurt you. It involves releasing negative feelings and choosing to move forward with compassion and understanding. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting or excusing the actions of the other person, but rather, it means acknowledging the harm done and choosing to let go of the negative emotions associated with it. Ultimately, forgiveness can lead to healing and a sense of peace for both the forgiver and the forgiven.

Different Types of Forgiveness

Here are some different types of forgiveness:

• Self-Forgiveness
• Forgiving a Friend
• Forgiving a Family Member
• Forgiving a Romantic Partner
• Forgiving a Co-Worker or Boss
• Forgiving a Stranger
• Forgiving a Group or Community
• Forgiving a Past Mistake or Trauma

Situations Associated with Forgiveness

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of forgiveness:

• Being wronged or hurt by someone.
• Realizing the harm caused by holding a grudge.
• Seeing the humanity in the person who hurt them.
• Understanding the context or circumstances that led to the hurtful action.
• Feeling empathy towards the person who wronged them.
• Experiencing personal growth or maturity.
• Wanting to move on from the pain and negativity associated with holding a grudge.
• Being inspired by someone else who has forgiven someone.

Physical Reactions to Forgiveness

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing forgiveness might have:

• Softening of facial features
• Relaxed body posture
• Openness to communication and eye contact
• Willingness to listen and understand
• Lack of defensive gestures
• Smiling or nodding
• Offering a handshake or a hug
• Speaking in a calm and non-judgmental tone
• Letting go of grudges or past grievances
• Showing empathy towards the person who caused harm
• Giving the benefit of the doubt

Thoughts Associated with Forgiveness

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing forgiveness might have:

• I can't keep holding a grudge forever
• Maybe it's time to let go of the past
• I don't want to be consumed by anger anymore
• I understand that everyone makes mistakes
• I'm willing to give them a second chance
• Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting, but it means moving on
• I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders
• Holding onto anger is only hurting myself
• I choose to focus on the positive and move forward
• I feel compassion and empathy towards the person who hurt me
• I'm willing to work towards rebuilding trust

Atmosphere of Forgiveness

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of forgiveness in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use a peaceful setting, such as a garden or a beach, to reflect the calmness and serenity that often accompany forgiveness.
• Incorporate natural elements like water or wind to symbolize the cleansing and renewing effects of forgiveness.
• Include warm, natural lighting to create a sense of hope and positivity.
• Use soft, gentle sounds, such as birds chirping or waves lapping against the shore, to create a soothing and healing atmosphere.
• Show characters engaging in activities that promote forgiveness, such as meditation or journaling, to emphasize the importance of introspection and self-reflection in the forgiveness process.
• Incorporate forgiving gestures, such as a hug or a handshake, to emphasize the act of reconciliation and forgiveness between characters.
• Create a sense of unity and togetherness among characters, emphasizing the power of forgiveness to bring people closer together.

Verbs Associated with Forgiveness

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of forgiveness:

• Forgive
• Pardon
• Absolve
• Release
• Let go
• Excuse
• Accept
• Reconcile
• Overlook
• Understand
• Empathize
• Grant amnesty
• Show mercy
• Make peace
• Bridge the gap
• Heal
• Move on
• Release resentment
• Embrace reconciliation

Emotions Before Forgiveness

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences forgiveness:

• Anger
• Resentment
• Betrayal
• Hurt
• Disappointment
• Sadness
• Guilt
• Regret
• Bitterness
• Frustration
• Despair
• Shame

Emotions After Forgiveness

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences forgiveness:

• Relief
• Gratitude
• Empathy
• Acceptance
• Freedom
• Understanding
• Reconciliation
• Peace
• Humility

Telling Forgiveness Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion forgiveness in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• She forgave him for what he had done.
• He asked for forgiveness and she gave it.
• Despite what had happened, she found it in her heart to forgive him.
• Forgiveness was the only way they could move forward.
• He knew he had messed up, but he hoped she would forgive him.
• It was hard, but she knew she had to forgive him in order to heal.
• They hugged and she felt the weight of resentment lift as she forgave him.
• It wasn't easy, but she knew she had to forgive herself before she could forgive others.
• Forgiveness was the key to their reconciliation.

Practical Examples of Showing Forgiveness

Here are some examples of showing forgiveness in a sentence:

• She hugged her friend tightly, letting go of all the anger and hurt she had been holding onto for so long.
• He smiled at his sister, knowing that he had finally forgiven her for the mistakes she had made in the past.
• Despite everything that had happened, she found it in her heart to forgive him and move on with her life.
• They sat together in silence, both feeling the weight of their past disagreements lift as they embraced forgiveness.

Exercises for Showing Forgiveness

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing forgiveness:

• Think of a past event in your character's life where they were wronged. Write a scene where they confront the person who wronged them and try to forgive them.
• Write a letter from your character to the person they need to forgive. What do they say? What emotions do they express?
• Have your character witness someone else forgiving someone. How do they react? Do they feel inspired to forgive someone in their own life?
• Write a scene where your character has to forgive themselves. What did they do wrong? How do they come to terms with it and move on?
• Create a scene where your character is struggling to forgive someone. What is holding them back? How do they ultimately overcome those obstacles and find forgiveness?
• Write a conversation between two characters, where one is seeking forgiveness from the other. How does the other character respond? Do they grant forgiveness? Why or why not?

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotional thesaurus.