Day 4: Practicing Empathy and Compassion

"Compassion is the bridge between understanding and forgiveness." – Unknown

Forgiveness often feels like an uphill battle, especially when the wounds are deep. But what if forgiveness wasn’t about them? What if it was about freeing you—your heart, your mind, and your peace?

Compassion can be a transformative tool, not to excuse or forget the harm done but to see it from a broader lens, one that allows you to reclaim your power. And here’s the truth: forgiveness doesn’t mean the person has to stay in your life. You can forgive while keeping healthy boundaries. You can forgive from a distance.

Maya’s Story

Maya had a friend, Priya, who betrayed her trust. Priya spread Maya’s personal struggles around their social circle, and the humiliation cut deep. Maya’s first instinct was to cut Priya off completely—and she did.

But the resentment stayed. Every time she thought about Priya, her chest tightened with anger. Maya realized that while Priya was no longer in her life, the betrayal still held her captive.

One day, during a journaling exercise, Maya imagined Priya’s perspective. She thought about Priya’s insecurities and need for validation, how Priya’s actions may have stemmed from her own unhealed wounds. For the first time, Maya felt a flicker of understanding—not for Priya’s behavior, but for her humanity.

Maya didn’t call Priya or let her back into her inner circle, but she let go of the bitterness. Forgiveness didn’t mean reopening the friendship. It meant saying, “I release you and what you did. I won’t let it control me anymore.”

Forgiveness From a Distance

Forgiveness doesn’t mean welcoming someone back into your life or condoning their actions. It means setting yourself free. It’s saying, “I see you as a flawed human being, and I choose to let go of the power you hold over my heart.”

You can forgive someone while maintaining boundaries. You can acknowledge their struggles without erasing your pain. Compassion doesn’t require proximity; it requires perspective.

The Compassion Exercise

Here’s an exercise to try:

• Imagine the person who hurt you. Picture them not as the person who caused you pain but as a human being with fears, struggles, and flaws.
• Ask yourself: What might they have experienced that shaped their actions?
• What unhealed wounds might they carry?
• How does their humanity connect to yours?

This exercise isn’t about absolving them; it’s about softening the edges of your pain.

Reflection Questions

Take a moment to consider:

• How does the idea of forgiving from a distance feel to you?
• What would it mean to limit their access to you while releasing resentment?
• How can you cultivate compassion for yourself during this process?

A Thought to Hold Onto

You don’t have to hate someone to protect yourself. You don’t have to disappear into anger to create a boundary. Forgiveness allows you to close a chapter, not because the other person deserves it, but because you deserve peace.

We are all imperfect. We all make mistakes. And when you choose compassion—for yourself, for them—you’re choosing to write a new story.

Let this be a reminder: forgiveness doesn’t mean staying connected to someone who hurt you. It means letting their power over you dissolve. It’s your way of saying, “I am free.”

Share your thoughts or experiences below. Each step you take in this journey matters, and I’m here, walking alongside you.

#Forgiveness #Compassion #Boundaries #Healing #MentalHealthMatters #SelfLove

Sonnal Pardiwala M.A.ICF-PCC.