I can have peace of mind only when I forgive rather than judge.

Host: The evening sun hung low in the sky, casting long, golden rays across the open field. The soft hum of crickets filled the air, blending with the gentle rustling of leaves as a cool breeze drifted through the trees. Jack and Jeeny sat on the edge of a small wooden dock, their feet dangling just above the water’s surface. The world around them felt at peace—quiet, still, untouched. Yet, between them, there was a tension that neither of them had quite voiced yet. Jack looked out at the water, his face thoughtful, while Jeeny watched him, her gaze steady but soft.

Jack: “Peace of mind? Is it really that simple, Jeeny? Forgiving instead of judging? Do you honestly think that’s the answer to everything? I mean, it sounds nice, but you can’t just forgive everything and expect to feel at peace. Some things are just too much to let go of.”

Jeeny: “It’s not about letting go of the pain, Jack. It’s about letting go of the grudge. Forgiveness isn’t about saying that what happened was okay. It’s about giving yourself the freedom to stop carrying the weight of judgment. Peace of mind comes from choosing to release the anger and resentment that we hold onto. Because as long as we’re judging, we’re the ones that suffer.”

Jack: “But how do you forgive when someone’s done something that goes against everything you believe in? It’s not just about letting it go. It’s about protecting yourself from more hurt. If you forgive too easily, you just leave yourself open for more of the same.”

Jeeny: “Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to keep opening yourself to the same hurt, Jack. It doesn’t mean you let the person walk all over you again. It means you choose not to hold onto the past anymore, to stop letting their actions define your future. Forgiving someone frees you, not them. You stop carrying the burden of anger, and you gain back control over your own peace.”

Jack: “But sometimes it feels like forgiving just lets people off the hook. Justice is important too. What if forgiving means you’re ignoring the harm that was done, letting them get away with it?”

Jeeny: “Forgiveness isn’t about ignoring what happened or excusing their actions. It’s about deciding that you don’t want to live with the weight of judgment anymore. When we judge others, we’re only trapping ourselves in the past. The peace that comes with forgiveness is about releasing that. It’s about accepting that you can’t change the past, but you can choose how it impacts you now. And holding onto anger or judgment doesn’t help anyone—it just keeps you in chains.”

Host: The water ripples gently, reflecting the soft colors of the fading sky. The sound of the breeze is calm, soothing, almost like a lullaby. Jack shifts, glancing down at his hands as if searching for the words to express what he’s feeling. The tension in his shoulders is palpable, but he remains still, letting Jeeny’s words settle in.

Jack: “I get it, but it feels like forgiving would be giving in—like I’m saying it was okay, that I’m just letting go of everything. But I’m not sure I can let myself do that.”

Jeeny: “It’s not about saying it was okay. It’s about recognizing that holding onto the anger, the judgment, only poisons you. Forgiving means you take back your power, you don’t let their actions continue to affect you. Peace of mind comes from knowing that you are free from the chains of the past. When you forgive, it’s like taking a breath of fresh air after being trapped in a room full of smoke.”

Jack: “So, you think peace of mind is really possible if I forgive all the things that have happened? Even the big stuff? The things that feel like they’ll destroy me if I just let them go?”

Jeeny: “Peace doesn’t come from forgetting, Jack. It comes from choosing not to let the past control you anymore. Forgiving is a way to say, ‘I won’t let this hurt define me. I won’t let this anger control my heart.’ Peace comes when you stop living in the past and start living in the present.”

Host: The sunset deepens, the last rays of light casting a soft glow on the water. The world around them seems to hold its breath, waiting. Jack’s eyes soften as he listens to Jeeny, his expression shifting, as if he’s beginning to understand something he couldn’t quite reach before.

Jack: “Maybe… maybe I’ve been holding on to things for too long, thinking that justice and judgment were the answers. Maybe it’s not about being right or getting even. Maybe it’s about moving forward.”

Jeeny: “Exactly, Jack. It’s not about letting people off the hook; it’s about freeing yourself from the weight of their actions. Peace comes when you stop trying to control what you can’t, and start taking control of how you react to it. Forgiving is giving yourself permission to heal.”

Host: The evening settles in completely now, and the stars begin to twinkle softly in the sky above. The stillness in the air is peaceful, the world turning slowly as time passes by. For a moment, it’s as if nothing else matters but the quiet understanding between Jack and Jeeny. A soft smile tugs at the corners of Jack’s mouth as he looks at her, a sense of clarity beginning to take root.

Jack: “I think I’m starting to get it. Forgiveness is more about me than about anyone else, isn’t it? It’s about letting go of the hold the past has on me.”

Jeeny: “Exactly, Jack. It’s about finding the freedom to live in the present, not trapped by the past. Peace of mind only comes when we choose to forgive and stop carrying the burden of judgment.”

Host: The night has fallen completely, and the world around them feels quiet, peaceful. The water is still, and the air carries a coolness that feels like a fresh start. As Jack and Jeeny sit together, the weight of the conversation settles, leaving behind an unspoken understanding. Forgiveness isn’t a gift for the other—it’s a gift to yourself, a key to unlocking true peace.