Become New with John Ortberg This Therapy Practice Will Help You Forgive
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Jan 7, 2026 Forgiveness can be complex and time-consuming. John Ortberg unveils a transformative two-chair exercise that encourages empathy and facilitates the forgiveness process. By picturing someone who hurt you and engaging in a dialogue from both perspectives, you can work through resentment. This method teaches that forgiveness is a choice, not just a feeling, while emphasizing the importance of boundaries. The practice culminates in an emotional commitment to forgive, aiming to liberate you from bitterness and foster compassion.
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Joseph’s 22-Year Separation
- John Ortberg recounts Joseph being sold into slavery at 17 and returning after 22 years apart from his family.
- That long separation highlights how forgiveness and reconciliation can take years and unfold slowly.
Practice The Two-Chair Dialogue
- Do the two-chair exercise: write and speak a hypothetical dialogue between you and the person who hurt you.
- Physically alternate chairs and voice both sides to foster empathy and deepen emotional forgiveness.
Turning Forgiveness Into Practice
- The two-chair method converts forgiveness from an idea into an emotional process by forcing you to hear the other's perspective.
- Research shows a focused 10-minute version of this exercise can significantly increase your capacity to forgive.
