“Forgiveness” ~ Kevin Elsey, MA, LPC interviewed by Loretta Depka Zerbo, Executive Director

To forgive, or just forget? You’ve been fired; your partner has cheated on you; someone cut you off in traffic; you were abused by someone in your past. These situations can leave you feeling hurt, angry, and wanting nothing but revenge. How can you forgive when you have been wronged? Why should you? What if someone doesn’t forgive us? And why is it so easy to stay mad? The process of forgiving has been shown to improve health and peace of mind for those who forgive. Practicing forgiveness is a form of self-care that can decrease depression, anxiety, and unhealthy anger. While it isn’t always easy, letting go of grudges can lead us to a path of improved physical and emotional well-being. Kevin Elsey shared different approaches to forgiveness and offer some practical tips on how to forgive in this podcast. Because if we can’t forgive, we might be the only one who suffers. Kevin Elsey is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has spent the majority of his professional work in the hospice field providing bereavement support including spiritual direction and tools for forgiveness. Kevin’s goal is to help his client to clearly conceptualize what is hampering their well-being and develop a strategy to live a healthier, more fulfilling life. As with most things worth having, wellness requires effort, consistency, and accountability. Because each of us is unique and there is no one size fits all approach to wellness, his therapeutic method is tailored to your individual needs. 0:00 Intro 2:35 What Forgiveness is Not 4:45 When is the Best Time to Ask for Forgiveness? 8:37 Who Apologizes First? 11:43 Forgiving Yourself 13:14 Forgiving with Boundaries/ Expectations of Forgiveness 17:19 Carrying the Weight of Forgiveness- The Physical Effects 18:16 Forgiveness is a Starting Point 20:47 Forgiveness in the World – It’s Not a Weakness 26:17 Forgiveness Communication 27:40 Letting Go of Desire for Revenge 30:44 Steps of Forgiveness 36:10 Wrap Up The Starting Point Website: https://startingpoint.org/ To Donate Please Visit: https://startingpoint.org/todays-donation/ The Founder of The Starting Point Vince DiPasquale’s YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/c/VinceDiPasquale/featured For Live & Virtual Meetings Please Visit The Starting Point Calendar: https://startingpoint.org/calendar/