The Power of Forgiveness: Healing from Betrayal

Forgiving the Unforgivable:

Forgiving the unforgivable is one of the hardest things we will ever be asked to do. Your wounds may not be your fault, but your healing is your responsibility. And sometimes, if we hold on to the bitterness of betrayal, we end up dying slowly inside.

Here’s the truth: forgiveness is not about them — it’s about you. Take a moment with that. What does it mean when we say forgiveness is about you?

When you’ve been hurt, betrayed, dismissed, or left carrying shame, guilt, or bitterness, it feels impossible to hear someone say: “You need to forgive in order to feel free.” The first time I heard this, I was walking through partner betrayal, which opened old wounds of parental betrayal. It felt like a cruel joke — as if I was being tricked into excusing what had been done. But forgiveness isn’t about excusing. It’s about choosing not to carry the poison any longer.

Betrayal makes you question everything — including your worth. And here’s where reflection comes in: do you truly see your value? Have you named what you bring to the table? Because if you don’t recognize your worth, it becomes easier to tolerate people who don’t recognize it either. That’s not blame — that’s awareness. Awareness that allows us to pause before repeating cycles with people who still haven’t done their work.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean reconciling. It doesn’t even mean letting someone back into your life. Forgiveness means choosing yourself — your peace, your wholeness, your healing.

So ask yourself:

• Where am I still holding on to unforgiveness that is holding me back?

• What would it look like to forgive, even if I never get an apology?

• How might forgiveness free me — not them, but me?

Forgiveness is not easy. But it is necessary. And when you begin to forgive, you begin to heal. Not for them. For you.