Forgiveness, Part 2 (Episode 4 - Archive)

Forgiveness, Part 2 (Episode 4 - Archive)

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This archive episode of *Relational Recovery* picks up a multi-part chat on forgiveness, zeroing in on why self-criticism and resentment can quietly sabotage healing. Host Wes Thompson and co-host Austin Hill talk about how easy it is to obsess over the "gross" in life instead of the good.

Austin points out that someone might have "10 things going well" but fixate on the two that aren’t, effectively ignoring 80% of what’s actually working. They argue that a healthy approach is to give both the good and the bad the weight they deserve, rather than pretending either side doesn’t exist. The conversation leans into Christian spirituality and psychology to make a simple but challenging point: forgiveness is good for you.

Wes shares a story about a friend who responded to his own mistakes by depriving himself of food, almost as punishment. Wes gently questions this instinct: "Okay, you made a mistake, but I don’t know that the answer is to cause yourself more pain." That pattern of beating ourselves up, they say, doesn’t lead to healing or flourishing. Wes also uses the example of his son, Clive, to highlight how differently we treat ourselves compared to those we love.

He’d never want his child to feel unlovable after a mistake, yet many people send that exact message to themselves. Austin adds a memorable image: bitterness is "a poison pill we take hoping that the other person gets sick," when in reality, we’re only harming ourselves.

If you’re wrestling with resentment—towards others or yourself—and trying to build a life free from unwanted behaviours, this honest, faith-informed conversation might nudge you to ask: what would change if you started treating yourself with the same care you’d offer someone you truly love?