What do I do when I can't forgive someone?

Struggling to forgive someone who has hurt you deeply is completely understandable and doesn't make you a bad person. forgiveness is often misunderstood as excusing someone's behavior, forgetting what happened, or reconciling with them, but true forgiving others is actually about releasing the hold that resentment has on your own life. You might feel pressure to forgive because others tell you it's the 'right' thing to do, but forced self-forgiveness isn't genuine and often doesn't bring the peace people promise. forgiveness is a process that can't be rushed, and some hurts take years to work through. Start by acknowledging the full extent of how you were hurt rather than minimizing or excusing the other person's actions. Allow yourself to feel angry, sad, or betrayed without judgment - these emotions are valid responses to being wronged. Forgiveness doesn't mean the person deserves it or that what they did was okay; it means you're choosing to stop carrying the poison of resentment for your own well-being. Sometimes forgiveness comes gradually through understanding the other person's limitations or recognizing that their actions came from their own pain or dysfunction. Other times, forgiveness is simply a decision to stop letting someone who hurt you continue to have power over your emotional life. You can forgive someone and still maintain Personal boundaries, choose not to have a relationship with them, or protect yourself from future harm. Focus on your own healing rather than whether or when you'll be able to forgive.