Forgiveness & Self-help Industry
That being said, a word of caution is necessary only for those who DESIRE to forgive, yet feel the pressure to do so prematurely (usually by the other party and even-friends, family etc.). For all else, I believe forgiveness is often used as a ploy (stemming from religious doctrine; naturally) in order to relinquish all responsibility from people, to fuel denial and to heed no warning or gain no knowledge from events. Forgiveness is not necessary to ‘move on’, acceptance is. Contrary to popular belief and no doubt what all the pseudo-science-take-my-advice literature will drone on about, you are not crippled or incomplete or- my favourite, HOLDING A TOXIC GRUDGE (wow so selfish!!!) if you don’t believe you need to physically or even emotionally invite people back into your life.
More about the self-help industry... I want to distinguish the fact that I’m talking about the celeb, marketing of the happiness complex (that suffering is always transcendent!). The industry reinforces perceptions of shame and inferiority. It can be helpful for high functioning people but results in much disappointment for its actual target audience; not high functioning individuals.
Anyway, dub it a snake oil or, at least take it with a grain of salt.