Page 7 - Priorities #30 2005-April

It is crucial to understand that forgiveness is neither a weakness nor a defeat. Moreover, forgiveness does not necessarily require reconciliation or condoning the actions that hurt you. It is for you, nobody else, and it frees you from the role of victim.
painful as the conflict in Northern Ireland. In addition to counseling, Dr. Luskin’s research has also turned out to be useful in business, as proven by his recent study in a Fortune 100 company. (See box for more details on the Northern Ireland and Fortune 100 projects.)
Following his lecture, Priory students created a largetapestrymadeofpapercards,onwhicheach student wrote (anonymously) about a relationship
in his or her life that could be improved through forgiveness. The idea was to visually illustrate what power “one forgiveness each” could have in our lives.
The school community participated in a number of activities related to what they learned. In the spirit of Dr. Luskin’s educational approach that combines lectures with hands-on training, students met with their small group advisors and discussed several points of the lecture. Mr. Erkman, dean of students, prepared the faculty for this event well in advance. They watched a video about Dr. Luskin’s nine-step forgiveness program before the lectures and spent time brainstorming “thought questions” for their students. One of the outcomes of these discussions is the tapestry of paper cards. These lectures and activities are a part of Mr. Erkman’s effort to create an “ongoing and in-
depth emotional health program on the Priory campus that would sustain a long-term discussion about difficult issues,” he said
Dr. Luskin also talked to Priory parents and community in an annual Community Forum sponsored by the Community Relations Committee oftheBoardofTrustees. PreviousForumguests
have included Dr. Walter Borke, an authority on aging, Primatologist Jane Goodall, former Secretary of Defense William Perry, former Senator and, Olympic Basketball Gold Medalist William Bradley, and others.
Even Fortune 100s Can Forgive
Go to the WPS website www.woodsidepriory.com for links to further information on the Northern Ireland HOPE Project, the Fortune 100 company experi- ment and Dr. Luskin’s own website.
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