Forgiveness
True or False: Forgiving someone means that you believe their actions were justified or acceptable.
False
True or False: Resentment usually hurts the person holding onto it more than the other person.
True
Fill in the blank: You can't control other people, but you can control your ______.
Response/reaction
Completing this sentence: "Feelings are ______."
A) Facts
B) Permanent
C) Temporary experiences
D) Information
E) C and D
E) Feelings are temporary experiences and information.
Which coping skill is considered a grounding technique?
A) 5-4-3-2-1
B) Mind reading
C) Catastrophizing
D) Rumination
A) 5-4-3-2-1
Which of these can still be true after forgiving someone?
A) Setting boundaries
B) Feeling hurt
C) Choosing not to have them in your life
D) All of the above
D) All of the above
Resentment is best described as:
A) A brief emotional reaction
B) Anger that has been held onto over time
C) Healthy emotional expression
D) Emotional numbness
B) Anger that has been held onto over time
How would you reframe this negative thought: "I can't seem to make any progress in my recovery journey."
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. "I can take my recovery one day at a time. What is one small change I can commit to making today?"
When your brain immediately assumes the worst possible outcome, that's called:
A) Catastrophizing
B) Gratitude
C) Validation
A) When your brain immediately assumes the worst possible outcome, that's called catastrophizing
When you're overwhelmed by a large problem, what's usually the most helpful first step?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Break it into one small, manageable step.
Which of the following is NOT required for forgiveness?
A. An apology
B. Personal healing
C. Letting go of resentment over time
D. Accepting what you cannot change
A: An apology.
Which coping skill is MOST likely to reduce resentment?
A) Ruminating
B) Avoiding the person forever
C) Processing the hurt in a healthy way
D) Pretending nothing happened
C) Processing the hurt in a healthy way
What does a boundary protect?
A) Your peace
B) Other people's feelings
C) Your mistakes
D) None of the above
A) Your peace
Assuming you know what someone else is thinking is called:
A) Emotional reasoning
B) Mind reading
C) Personalization
D) Fortune telling
B) Mind reading
Which two "minds" come together to create Wise Mind?
A) Positive Mind and Negative Mind
B) Emotional Mind and Rational Mind
C) Logical Mind and Spiritual Mind
D) Past Mind and Future Mind
B) Emotional Mind and Rational Mind
Is it possible to forgive someone without ever receiving an apology? Why or why not?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Some people never apologize, but waiting for one can keep us stuck; Forgiveness can be a personal decision rather than something another person earns; Others may say no because an apology feels necessary for healing, and that's understandable too.
How can resentment start affecting people who had nothing to do with the original situation?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. We may become less trusting, snap at loved ones, isolate ourselves, or assume others will hurt us too.
Think about a difficult season you've survived. What strengths helped you get through it?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Resilience, humor, patience, asking for help, determination, or willingness to learn.
Share a time when your first interpretation of a situation turned out to be wrong. What did you learn from it?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. I assumed recovery would make me feel better right away. I learned that I need to commit to the process and identify the positives.
If your stress level suddenly doubled this week, what would be the first healthy coping skill you'd reach for?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Take a walk, call a friend, listen to music, move my body, take a shower, use opposite action, get outside, go to a meeting, or reach out for help.
Someone says, "I'll never forgive them because they don't deserve it." What might you say?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Forgiveness isn't about what they deserve; It's about freeing yourself from carrying the anger forever; You can forgive someone while still holding them accountable and protecting yourself.
What keeps people holding onto resentment, even when they know it isn't helping them?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. It can create a sense of control, or it may feel like justice; It protects them from being vulnerable again; Letting go can feel like accepting what happened, even though it isn't.
Imagine you woke up tomorrow feeling completely confident in yourself. What would you do differently that you could actually begin doing today?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Speak up more, apply for a job, set boundaries, call someone back, leave an unhealthy relationship, try something I've been avoiding, or believe I deserve recovery.
Two people can go through the exact same situation but leave with completely different perspectives. What do you think influences the way someone interprets an experience?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Past experiences, support system, trauma history, mindset, values, mental health, expectations, personality, or willingness to ask for help.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone who is just beginning recovery or rebuilding their mental health, what would it be, and why?
Multiple correct answers.
Ex. Take it one day at a time; Ask for help; Progress isn't always linear; Be patient with yourself