I find forgiveness to be really healthy.

Host: The sky outside had begun its slow transformation into night, with the soft hues of the fading sun casting long shadows that stretched across the room. The air had cooled, and the sounds from the city outside seemed to fade into the background, leaving behind a peaceful stillness. Jeeny sat at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her mug, her gaze far away, lost in thought. Jack, standing near the window, stared out into the darkening world, his expression thoughtful but distant, as if he were contemplating something far beyond the room. The silence between them felt like the calm before a conversation that could shift everything.

Host: The world outside continued to fall into its quiet rhythm, while inside, the room held its breath. Jeeny finally broke the silence, her voice gentle, but carrying the weight of something profound.

Jeeny: “I was thinking about something Ben Affleck said: ‘I find forgiveness to be really healthy.’ Do you agree with that, Jack? That the act of forgiving, of letting go, is not just a moral choice but a path to healing?”

Jack: He turned, his eyes narrowing slightly, clearly reflecting on her words. “It’s an easy thing to say, Jeeny. Forgiveness is all well and good when things are small, when you’re dealing with everyday mistakes. But when someone hurts you deeply, it’s not that simple. Forgiving someone doesn’t always make you feel better. Sometimes it feels like you’re just letting them off the hook. And what about when the hurt is too much to forgive?”

Jeeny: She paused, her gaze soft but filled with conviction. “I understand what you mean, Jack. Forgiveness isn’t easy. It’s not about forgetting what was done or pretending that it didn’t matter. It’s about choosing to release the hold that anger and resentment have over you. Forgiveness is not for the other person; it’s for your own peace. It’s about freeing yourself from the burden of carrying that hurt. Otherwise, it eats away at you from the inside.”

Jack: He shifted, his expression becoming more contemplative as he considered her words. “But forgiveness doesn’t always bring peace, does it? Sometimes, it just feels like you’re putting a Band-Aid over something that’s too deep to heal. Anger, resentment — they’re natural responses when you’ve been hurt. If you just forgive, doesn’t it make it feel like you’re erasing your own feelings, your own experience? What happens when forgiveness doesn’t feel like it’s enough?”

Jeeny: Her eyes deepened, and her voice grew a little more intense. “Forgiveness isn’t about erasing your feelings. It’s about giving yourself permission to move forward, to not let someone else’s actions dictate your life. Anger is valid, Jack. But when you hold onto it, it doesn’t just keep the other person in your life — it keeps you locked in the past. You give away your power every time you let resentment control you. Forgiveness is about reclaiming that power, about deciding that you won’t be ruled by the past anymore.”

Jack: He exhaled slowly, a slight frown on his face as he looked away, lost in his thoughts. “But it’s hard to let go, especially when the hurt runs so deep. Forgiving feels like you’re saying it’s okay for what they did, like you’re excusing them. And forgiving someone doesn’t always fix the damage they’ve done. How do you reconcile the idea of forgiving with the reality of the pain they caused?”

Jeeny: She leaned forward, her expression softening but still firm, as though speaking from a place of personal experience. “Forgiveness doesn’t mean you forget, or that what they did is excused. It means you’re no longer allowing their actions to control your future, your peace. It’s about taking back your power, about choosing to be free of the weight they placed on you. And it’s not something you do for them — it’s something you do for yourself. You don’t have to let go of the pain, but you can let go of the anger that keeps you trapped in it.”

Jack: He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes distant as though weighing her words against his own experience. “So, forgiveness is about releasing the anger, not excusing the behavior?”

Jeeny: She nodded gently, her eyes full of quiet strength. “Exactly. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you accept what was done to you or that you forget. It means you choose to move on, to heal. It’s a way of freeing yourself from the burden of that hurt, so it no longer has power over you. It’s a choice to live for the future, not the past.”

Host: The room had become quieter, the air thicker with the weight of their conversation. Jack stood still by the window, his eyes now softer, as though the weight of her words had begun to settle into his own heart. Jeeny remained calm, her gaze steady, knowing they had reached a deeper understanding. The night outside had deepened, but inside, the conversation had sparked something — an understanding that forgiveness was not just a gift for the person who wronged you, but a release for yourself, a way to reclaim your own peace and move forward.

Jack: “I think I understand now. Forgiveness isn’t about excusing the pain, but about releasing it, so it doesn’t control you anymore.”

Jeeny: Her smile was gentle, a soft sense of peace in her expression. “Yes. It’s about reclaiming your peace, your freedom, from the pain.”

Host: The night outside had fully settled, but inside the room, there was a quiet peace that lingered, an understanding that true healing comes not from forgetting, but from choosing to forgive — to let go of the anger that keeps us chained to the past. Jack and Jeeny sat in that silence, knowing that forgiveness is not just an act of grace for others, but a vital step toward healing ourselves.