Forgiveness Is For YOU - Overcome Trauma Through Forgiveness

*Content Warning* This episode contains mature content not intended for persons under the age of 18. Friends,  In this episode, I am joined by Mama Jane Snyder, a fertility awareness instructor and Catholic Mindset Coach. Together, we explore the emotional and spiritual challenges of infertility, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and self-compassion. Jane shares her journey through seven y...

Friends, In this episode, we delve into the complex emotions surrounding forgiveness, particularly in the aftermath of betrayal and deep personal loss. My exploration is framed by personal reflections on a former colleague's shocking conviction for sexual assault on minors, a person I worked closely with for 14 years. This experience has led me to reflect deeply on grief, identity, and the forgive...

In this podcast episode, I explore the concept of revenge through scientific research and Catholic teachings. I begin by examining the contrast between a heart of stone, hardened by experiences of injustice, and a heart of flesh, capable of forgiveness and love. Drawing from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and psychological research, I discuss how revenge impacts individuals psychologically a...

**Content Warning!** This episode contains mature content.  Friends,  in today's episode, I delve into the powerful connection between gratitude and forgiveness with my special guest, Amy Latino. A devoted wife, homeschooling mom, and entrepreneur, Amy shares her compelling story of growing up with a father who struggled with his own traumas, leading to a strained relationship filled with emotiona...

In this episode, Canadian Teresa Eppich, a fifth-grade teacher and author of the book A Legacy of Love, How a Holocaust Survivor Inspired Me to Live with Greater Freedom and Purpose shares the profound impact of her decade-long friendship with Eva Olsson, a Holocaust survivor who has touched countless lives with her message of resilience, love, and forgiveness. Eva's incredible journey from surviv...

In this episode, I explore the concept of spiritual bypassing, a term coined by Clinical Psychologist John Welwood in the 1980s. I discuss how spiritual practices can sometimes be used to avoid facing unresolved emotional issues and trauma, particularly in the context of religious observance. Drawing from personal experiences and biblical references, I delve into the dangers of disordered religios...

In this episode, I celebrate the milestone of 5,000 downloads and express my deepest gratitude. The episode takes inspiration from a listener's struggle with forgiveness, expanding on a discussion that began in episode 24 with Hannah Dustman. The episode also encourages reflection on the role one may take in conflicts and the tendency to self-blame. Listener's comment: I was floored by the descrip...

In this episode, I have a heartfelt conversation with Claudine Noel, Board-certified physician, Life Coach, Catholic convert, and the editor of the transformative book,  Sacred Wounds, Stories of Redemption, Healing, and Growth. We delve into the complex themes of family, faith, forgiveness, and the unique experiences and challenges faced by immigrants. This episode offers valuable insights into f...

This insightful episode of the "Forgiveness is for You" podcast ushers you into the intricacies of forgiveness for people with a melancholic temperament through the challenge-filled journey of Tiffany Haller, a resilient mother working through her forgiveness amidst marital separation. With Dr. Silva's guidance, uncover the unique struggles melancholics face while aiming to forgive, be it their in...

This episode features a heart-to-heart conversation with Hannah Dustman, a single woman who grapples with her phlegmatic disposition and the process of forgiving. Through Hannah's personal experiences and candid reflections, listeners are offered a glimpse into the unique path to forgiveness undertaken by a phlegmatic individual. Hannah’s story is a testament to the delicate balance between preser...

Happy Mother's Day! In this bonus episode, I share a story of my family and how Mother's Day has changed over time. I also remind moms that it's OK to make mistakes and that we are all human and forgiven.  If this podcast resonates with you, please follow, subscribe, write a review, share the link with a friend, take a screenshot, and share it on your social media. Sign up for my 5 Days to Forgive...

In this insightful podcast episode, we plunge deep into the psyche of the choleric temperament. We unravel nuances of anger and the therapeutic strength of forgiveness, through the lens of a choleric. The guest, Catherine Johnson, a Catholic Mindset Coach and mother, engages in a candid conversation about her battles with rage, mom guilt, and her path to forgiveness. The podcast emphasizes underst...

In this enlightening episode, delve deep into the sanguine temperament and its relationship with forgiveness. Explore the intrinsic qualities of Sanguines, their optimism, tendency to avoid conflict, and how these traits impact their journey towards forgiveness. Listen as our sanguine host shares her personal experiences, providing an intimate perspective on sanguine forgiveness and the challenges...

We all have a certain way of being, what psychologists call a personality type. There are hundreds of personality tests designed to determine what makes you tick. In this episode, I discuss one approach to understanding personality: The Temperaments. I will be discussing their origin, and what they are. In the next four episodes, I will go into depth about how each temperament might show up in the...

Welcome to Episode 20 of the Forgiveness is for YOU Podcast. Today I talk about LOVE. What is love? What is self-love and what does it all have to do with forgiveness? What does it mean to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves? I explore the answers to these questions through the lens of the Theology of the Body and invite you to contemplate t...

"No matter how ugly things get, there is always a way to find beauty in the broken." That is what my guest on this episode, Heather Gaffney, believes and so beautifully exemplifies through her story as a survivor of domestic violence. Heather shares her forgiveness process of herself and her ex-husband in a kind, loving, and open way that feels genuine and inspiring.  Heather Gaffney is an author,...

Welcome to Episode 18! In this last episode on emotions in the forgiveness process, my best friend and husband of almost 32 years, Steve Silva, shares his thoughts about the emotion of bitterness and how it can be redeemed. We talk about the difference between bitterness and sorrow and his process of forgiving me for emotional injuries in our marriage.  If this podcast resonates with you, subscrib...

Welcome to Episode 18 of the Forgiveness is for You Podcast. Today, I make a distinction between two concepts people around the world contemplate as we enter into Holy Week : Making amends and atonement. These concepts, if I may, are central to the act of forgiveness. One is utterly dependent on our own strength, and the other is only possible by the grace of God. I refer to the Alcoholics Anonymo...

In today's episode, I define pride in the context of forgiveness. Pride is like two sides of a coin, heads or tails, virtue or vice.  If pride stops at the pleasure or satisfaction we experience for an accomplishment that required great sacrifice, or a level of intimacy we achieved in a relationship, or recognition for a job well done, but doesn’t become the measure by which we measure others, the...

In today’s episode, I discuss the power of resentment in the forgiveness process and offer 10 steps for overcoming it. The definition of resentment comes from an article, From Ressentiment to Resentment as a Tertiary Emotion by Warren D. TenHouten published in 2018 in the Review of European Studies Volume 10, No 4. TenHouten claims that resentment is not a primary or secondary emotion, but a terti...

In today’s episode, I welcome my first Guest, Monica Herber. We talk about Monica and her husband’s adoption of a child with profound disabilities and their journey through forgiveness to joyful living. Click on this LINK for a picture of Monica's family.  Monica is the founder of The Joyful Unknown LLC, Speaker, and Certified Catholic Mindset and Marriage Coach. Her passion is to help individuals...

In this episode, I discuss how we can make ourselves receptive to joy amid our suffering and how we can use our suffering for the good of others. I discuss the four levels of Happiness in Fr. Robert Spitzer’s book, Finding True Happiness and give three tips for how to cultivate receptivity to joy: 1. Stop, 2. Drop and 3. Rock & Roll. I mention the song Jerusalema as one of my favorites to danc...

In this episode, I discuss the emotion of shame, the third core emotion we might experience in the forgiveness process. In recent history, shame researcher Brene Brown has made headlines around the world as she exposed this gnarly emotion and its effects on the human psyche and relationships. I focus not so much on the research but speak directly to shame concerning the forgiveness of self. I expl...

Disgust is an oft-overlooked emotion in the healing of trauma and deciding to forgive. Moral disgust is the reaction to a physical reaction towards a person who violated the moral code, such as sexual, verbal, or physical abuse and betrayal in a relationship. If we are to forgive ourselves, we will need to take a good, hard look at how disgust is showing up in our thoughts and is manifested in our...

It’s important to understand how our emotions can help us heal or keep us stuck in unforgiveness. In this episode, I talk about the role of anger in the forgiveness process. I make the distinction between the state of anger and the emotion of anger. We can allow ourselves to be in a state of anger, but not for too long. When we allow the emotion of anger to morph into a state of being, we become a...