The Forgiveness Writing Group is a two-prong ministry to enhance the perceived value of forgiveness skills and to explore Forgiveness through writing. The first prong is an on-line database of real life-lesson stories and essays about forgiveness, so others can learn from the experiences of others. Imagine that you are feeling a lot of anger and resentment, but something inside is telling you that acting out isn’t the best choice. You visit ForgivenessReiki.com and click on the Forgiveness Writing Group link. There, you scroll over some of your choices... Under Family, you find several stories from others who are working on forgiving one of their parents too. You realize, and perhaps find a little peace in knowing, that you are not alone. The second prong is a small group format, i.e., youth groups, young adult ministries, civic groups, etc. In this format, the written insights about forgiveness are followed by thought-provoking questions that encourage contemplation through journal writing (using the iPhone writing pad or any writing app that shares content).
Imagine being a teenager again. Someone from ForgivenessReiki visits your youth group and shares a few examples of real life instances of forgiveness. No dogma: real life. No lecture: true stories. Then they ask powerful questions and invite everyone to journal. Then they encourage willing participants to share what they’ve written.
The FWG is about planting seeds to enhance the perceived value of learning forgiveness skills. Perhaps participants will learn from these stories and essays how useful forgiveness skills are in many different areas of their life. These real life examples come from many ages and types of people. Author Ellen Morris Prewitt pioneered journal-writing with the homeless. FWG borrows heavily from her We R Righting Group: A Pocket Guide to Writing in Groups... and Righting the World.
The scope of providing enough real life instances of forgiveness exceeds my capabilities. That’s where you come in. Please share, in +/- 500 words, your wisdom stories about forgiveness in very clear, concise language. Who and what and how did you forgive? What hurdles did you have to cross? What came up that had to be dealt with in order to forgive? What benefits did you experience because of your having forgiven? Also, what regrets do you have for ever having failed to forgive?
Powerful Socratic questions about the story can lead readers to mature insights and perhaps help open their eyes and hearts to the next level of self-awareness. If you can, please add such questions at the end of your story. My advisory board members reserve the right to either add or edit such questions and to edit any story for clarity or for content that is deemed inappropriate for readers of all ages.
Contributors will not be attributed. Participants will read contributions without any bias based on name, occupation, gender, etc. Know in advance that your submissions, and their rights, are gratis, an act of charity, an anonymous paying forward to others. If you are a professional writer, or simply would like recognition of your efforts, there is an essay collection, different than the anecdotes, where your essay will be attributed.
FauxGiveness
Why do some people only engage forgiveness superficially? We miss out on clarity and growth by only engaging forgiveness half-heartedly. That said, I propose that there is no such thing as FauxGiveness. We are doing the best we can. Unfortunately, sometimes our best is not very good.
For some people, forgiveness is easy. But for most it’s a challenge, and a process. As one counselor told me, “They were married a long time. That’s hard to heal in just one session.” FauxGiveness is unfinished, not inferior, forgiveness. The critical voice in our head loves to berate us and fill us with doubts. But as we forgive, and heal, our inner child can learn not to fall for those voices. We don’t have to believe negative thoughts to ask ourselves probing questions. Do a little digging and discover the gems of forgiveness. Read the Forgiveness Writing Group stories. Other people, just like you, have persevered and won. The Forgiveness Reiki book, with its Prayers of Assistance can be a powerful tool in releasing grudges and emotional baggage. To schedule a workshop, complete the “Contact Me” form. Thanks! I will be in touch with you shortly. To contribute stories or contribute essays, click below.
Using storytelling as a tool for healing, I work with youth groups, church groups, rotary clubs, and other collectives throughout North Carolina and nearby areas. I can lead group sessions based on your group’s needs and interests, combining writing exercises and presentations about Reiki and forgiveness. When we share the challenges we are facing, we open up the possibility to connect with others and to help each other learn and heal.
By showcasing these true stories of forgiveness here on the website, I hope to encourage you to share your story as well. Please feel welcome to use the contact form below to share your own forgiveness story with our group.
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Using storytelling as a tool for healing, I work with youth groups, church groups, rotary clubs, and other collectives throughout North Carolina and nearby areas. Use the provided form if you are interested in learning more about my classes and presentations.