7 Effective Forgiveness Games for Adults

Forgiveness isn’t easy. Depending on the offense, it may take a long time for you to truly forgive someone. Once you make the decision to forgive, you have to be intentional about your next steps. One way to get over hurt is by trying some forgiveness games for adults to help you move on. 

Playing games as you work to forgive may take away some of the tension and awkwardness as you prepare to talk to the person who has caused you hurt and pain. 

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Why is it so hard for adults to forgive?

It can be difficult for adults to forgive because oftentimes we are more guarded and less willing to make ourselves vulnerable again to the person who hurt us. Even though it’s risky and scary to forgive, it is necessary for us to move forward in life. 

What games help with forgiveness?

Positive Psychology lists 24 activities and exercises that can be used to begin the process of forgiveness. These activities are great for people who are ready to forgive but don’t know quite how to proceed. 

Here are some additional games and activities that can help you begin to heal:

1. The Apology Game

The apology game involves two or more players who take turns apologizing for something they have done wrong. The apology should be sincere and the players should be willing to accept responsibility for the mistake.

Verbalizing your apology and responding to someone as they apologize helps you learn to be aa more effective communicator and may make it a little easier when you’re in a real situation where you need to forgive someone.

2. The Forgiveness Dialogue

Dialogue is a great way to work through problems. This game involves two or more players who take turns discussing the issue that has caused hurt feelings. Each player should express their feelings and actively listen to one another.

Having forgiveness dialogue helps you learn to express yourself and improve your listening skills. When you’re angry or hurt, it can be difficult to hear what someone is actually saying to you. Emotions can sometimes get in the way of active listening.

3. The Kindness Game

Practicing acts of kindness can help you deal with your emotions that stem from hurt. The kindness game involves two or more players who take turns doing kind acts for one another. The kind acts should be meaningful and heartfelt.

Practicing kindness is a great way to begin dealing with anger and other negative emotions.

4. The Blame Game

This game involves two or more players who take turns discussing the issue that has caused hurt feelings. Each player should take responsibility for their part in the conflict and work together to find a resolution.

The goal is to get through the discussion without blaming the other person. Blame keeps you trapped in unforgiveness and makes it more difficult to move past the hurt.

5. The Listening Game

Listening is easier said than done. This is especially true when you’re dealing with hurt feelings. The forgiveness game involves two or more players who take turns sharing their feelings and listening to one another. Each player should actively listen and offer support and encouragement.

A major part of forgiveness is being a good listener.

6. The Trust Game

This game involves two or more players who take turns discussing a difficult issue that has caused hurt feelings. Each player should trust in the other’s ability to forgive and move forward.

Trust and forgiveness are closely related. When you forgive someone, you start to rebuild the trust that was damaged by their actions. Forgiveness allows you to move forward and possibly rebuild trust with the person who wronged you. (Note: It is not always possible to regain a trusting relationship with someone who has hurt or angered you.)

7. The Gratitude Game

This game involves two or more players who take turns expressing gratitude for one another. The players should express their appreciation for each other’s contributions to the relationship.

How do forgiveness activities help you move past hurt?

Forgiveness games are designed to help you practice forgiveness in a safe and non-threatening way. By doing these activities, you may become more comfortable with the idea of forgiveness and develop the skills needed to forgive more easily in real-life situations. 

These activities can help you learn to let go of negative emotions and focus on positive feelings. Ultimately, forgiveness games can help you improve your mental and emotional well-being by reducing stress, anxiety, and anger.