HOW TO FORGIVE A FRIEND

In close relationships, hurt happens. If you're ready to let it go, here are some guidelines.

- Alyssa Jung

The path to forgiving can be bumpy- and you are not a bad person if you can't or don't want to. But if you're able to, there can be a real health and happiness payoff. "Forgiveness is liberating and frees real estate in your mind and body," says Simira Freeman, Psy.D., a psychologist in New York City. Feeling wronged can cause exhausting stress and emotional dysregulation, she explains. Think of forgiveness as a gift to yourself, and take these steps:

Feel all the feels.

To process what went down, it’s crucial to tap into the emotions you’re trying to let go of. “Acknowledge the hurt and its impact on you. We can’t forgive what we don’t acknowledge,” says Robyn Martin, L.P.C.-S., a senior clinician at the Menninger Clinic in Houston. Identify the feelings you’re experiencing, and ignore outside opinions — this happened to