Although this is my sixth offering of this class, it is also a first. This is the first time that students' reponses have engrossed me so deeply that I completely forgot that yesterday began week two. Hence the tardiness of this announcement. I have enjoyed your responses to the discussion questions thus far, and I look forward to more of the same in the weeks to come. ********************************************************************** [PSY 020] When and Why is Forgiveness Difficult? ~ THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS – WEEK #2 Dear colleagues in forgiveness, I continue to be delighted with the quality of your responses during our first week together, and I look forward to more of the same in the week to come. I also look forward to yet hearing from those who, because of traveling or other interventions, are getting a late start. This week, as we consider the rationale for forgiveness in terms of the evidence that it is salutary to our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing, each of you will choose the one grievance that s/he would most like to release by the time we conclude this class on October 26. This week also begins our chat sessions, which will be held on two different days and at two different times, to accommodate the diversity of time zones. You are expected to attend only one of the sessions . . . and may attend both if that is your inclination. Please do not stay away from the chat sessions out of a feeling that you are “behind” with your coursework. There is no 8-ball in the chat room. PLEASE NOTE that the chat times listed are Pacific Daylight time. To assist you in checking their corresponding times in your time zone, see http://www.timeanddate.com . Thursday, Sept. 30, 7 a.m. PDT Friday, Oct. 1, 4 p.m. PDT Instructions for accessing and participating in the “chat room” are in your Student Orientation materials. And now for our overview of week #2: WEEK #2: If Forgiveness Is Good for Me, Why Is It Difficult? OVERVIEW: Scientific evidence is mounting that forgiveness is good for mental and physical health. Research is showing that as people forgive, they become less depressed, angry, and hurt and more optimistic and hopeful. Studies show that forgiveness has a short-term salutary effect on blood pressure, muscle tension, and heart rate and a longer-term positive effect on stress and physical vitality. Forgiveness improves one’s self-confidence and even leads to a greater sense of spiritual connectedness. However, forgiveness can be a difficult thing to practice. In the literature on religious qualities, scholarly authors note that forgiveness is among the least talked about and the most difficult to practice. It is interesting to consider that there are many things human beings can choose to do that are good for us, yet the evidence is clear that we often do not practice what is good for us. Exercise is healthy, leading to an extended life by reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease, yet we are more and more a nation of couch potatoes. Healthful eating, with a BMI less than 25, is a crucial determinant of health, yet we are becoming more and more obese as a society. Is there any evidence that knowing that forgiveness is good for health will lead us to practice it? Will it lead you to practice it? And if not, what will it take to lead you to practice it? TO AUDIT & READ THIS WEEK -Forgive for Good, pp. 61-101 -Listen to the “What Is Forgiveness?” lecture on audiotape, side #2 -Seminar Packet: Minow, Martha, "Between Vengeance and Forgiveness," pp. 9-24 DISCUSSION POINTS 1. What are the obstacles to forgiveness? 2. When is forgiveness not appropriate? 3. When have you chosen not to forgive? 4. How are forgiveness, reconciliation, condoning, and justice different? 5. How does forgiveness help you? As always, the discussion points will be addressed in your responses to a set of topics posted for Week #5. The topics, each with its own thread, are entitled as follows: -The dynamics of grudge-holding -Reclaiming space you've rented to negativity -Forgiveness: Easy or Difficult (revisited) -Are some things unforgivable? You are encouraged to log on to the Discussion Board daily, to keep up with others’ contributions and make your own. Stay in the grace! Noel McInnis noelmcinnis@forgivenessfirst.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TO LOG ON TO YOUR COURSE SITE: Go to: http://www.AllLearn.org NEED HELP? Phone 1-866-524-1502 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or send email to help@AllLearn.org If you're outside the US and Canada and wish to speak to someone, please email your phone number to help@AllLearn.org so that an AllLearn staff member may contact you.