Forgive them; damaged people can hardly imagine the pain they inflict on others.
The unwell are barely accountable for their behavior, so the burden of accountability must fall on the comparatively healthier.
To be overwhelmed with pain is a kind of sleepwalking...
There are varying degrees of damage and self-knowledge, to be sure.
I'm speaking of people who are psychologically unwell and either dysfunctional or barely functional...
Unfortunately, I'm all too aware of the 'energy sucking needy streak' variety as well as the self-congratulatory forgivers.
Still I don't know that it's helpful, or true, to suggest that there are no undamaged people & everyone is a monster 😕
Self-awareness is endless..
There's wisdom in the ability to side against oneself.
Yes, on some level, none of us are above or removed from a certain degree of damage...
But, what I'm speaking of is a tragic exaggeration of the human condition. Those who are deeply sleepwalkers than most, more fundamentally unfree, prisoners and even consenting playthings of their pain.
Part of forgiving is (eventually) forgetting...
I realize it's far easier said than done, but worth the effort..
Here's some timeless advice from St. Anthony who is said to have left succinct and extremely demanding guidelines:
don't trust your self righteousness, control your tongue.
I hope you will not hear judgement, here, or separateness.
I'm only using non psychological terms to refer to psychologically-recognized conditions.
Peace
