International Forgiveness Institute

International Forgiveness Institute We believe that forgiveness is a choice. In doing so, an amazing transformation begins. When you forgive, you may benefit the person you forgive.

The International Forgiveness Institute is dedicated to helping people gain knowledge about forgiveness and to use that knowledge for personal, group, and societal renewal. If you have been deeply hurt by another, you can choose to forgive rather than hold on to debilitating anger and resentment. The black clouds of anxiety and depression give way to enhanced self-esteem and genuine feelings of ho

pefulness. But you benefit yourself far more. By liberating yourself from the pain and sorrow, you can reclaim your life and find the peace that your anger had stolen. The founder of the International Institute of Forgiveness, Robert D. Enright, PhD, pioneered this thinking more than 25 years ago and created the first scientifically proven forgiveness program in the country. By using the Institute’s 20-step forgiveness process model, anyone—individuals, families, communities, even governments—can experience the extraordinary benefits of forgiveness. With the correct approach to forgiveness, we can all help restore healthy emotions, rebuild relationships and establish more peaceful communities around the world. The IFI has developed the foundation for this by creating forgiveness education curriculum guides aimed at children in Kindergarten through high school.

09/09/2026

"In my experience, however, most who begin forgiving with the motivation to aid in their own healing are not acting selfishly, are open to exploring who the injurer is, and in many cases, are willing to reach out to him or her."
(Robert Enright, Forgiveness Is a Choice, p. 202)

09/08/2026

“Our hate does not even have the decency to die when those we hate die–for it is a parasite sucking OUR blood, not theirs. There is only one remedy for it–forgiveness.”
— Lewis B. Smedes

09/06/2026

"Forgiving and reconciling can lead to healing, but sometimes a family may be caught in a pattern of pseudo-forgiveness, saying, ‘l forgive you’ and 'Please forgive me' without meaning either one, which is counterproductive."
(Robed Enright, Forgiveness Is a Choice, p. 193)

09/06/2026

"In our society, forgiveness is often seen as weakness. People who forgive those who have hurt them or their family are made to look as if they really don't care about their loved ones. But forgiveness is tremendous strength. It is the action of someone who refuses to be consumed by hatred and revenge."
(Helen Prejean, csj)

09/04/2026

Those who have gone through the forgiveness process can face the future with the knowledge that, no matter what happens, you can survive. Even if the unthinkable happens, you can say to yourself, "This is unjust, and I am angry, but I know that I can make a decision to forgive and eventually be free."
(Robert Enright, Forgiveness Is a Choice, p. 186)

09/04/2026

"Forgiveness is the key. Forgiveness finds you when you are lost, fills you when you are empty. When it happens, it doesn't merely influence you, it affects you profoundly.”
(Paul Coleman, The Forgiving Marriage, p. 310)

09/03/2026

"People who are hurt are like sponges. The sponge soaks up water; you ‘soak up’ the pain. Over time, the water evaporates out of the sponge until it is dry once more; the pain you absorb slowly dissipates until you are free from it."
(Robert Enright, Forgiveness Is a Choice, p. 162)

09/02/2026

"At the beginning of the forgiveness process, the idea of feeling compassion, empathy, or love toward the offender may have been unthinkable, but after a person has decided to forgive and has worked on understanding, a change in feelings is possible."
(Robert Enright, Forgiveness Is a Choice, p. 157)

09/01/2026

"The decision to forgive is a wonderful way to open up the heart and the mind. Those who focused on their anger before making a decision to forgive often find that, after making the decision, they are able to view the offender in a new light."
(Robert Enright, Forgiveness Is a Choice, p. 140)

08/30/2026

"You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love."
(Henry Drummond)

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Madison, WI

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