Many survivors have been encouraged to experience compassion, generosity, and love toward their offender(s). Some survivors have tried and succeeded, while others have failed and felt guilt or shame as a result, and many have felt unseen, unheard, and manipulated by those who encouraged them to experience positive emotions, thoughts, and dispositions toward their offender(s). Spring writes, “It is commonly assumed that when you forgive, your negative feelings are completely replaced by positive ones. The problem with this expectation is that it is so categorical, that it puts forgiveness out
...more