MSI Press Blog

  Forgiveness is often described as a gift—but rarely as a struggle. And yet, for many, it is both. It asks us to confront pain, to release resentment, and to choose peace over righteousness. It is not a single act, but a process. Not a surrender, but a reclamation. 🧠 Why Forgiveness Is So Hard Psychologists like Robert Enright and Frederic Luskin describe forgiveness as a  multi-phase journey : Uncovering the Hurt : Naming the pain and acknowledging its impact. Deciding to Forgive : A conscious choice, often made before emotions catch up. Working Toward Understanding : Exploring the offender’s humanity—not to excuse, but to contextualize. Finding Meaning : Reframing the experience in a way that fosters growth. Neuroscience shows that holding onto resentment keeps the body in a low-grade fight-or-flight state. Forgiveness, by contrast, activates brain regions linked to empathy and emotional regulation. It’s not just emotional—it’s physiological. 🌿 What Forgiveness Is Not For...

  There are wounds so deep they seem to fracture time itself—splintering childhood from adulthood, memory from meaning, and trust from safety. Incest is one of those wounds. It is not just a violation of the body, but of the sacred trust that binds families. And yet, healing is possible. Not linear, not easy—but possible. 🧠 The Psychology of Healing Survivors of incest often carry complex trauma, shaped by betrayal, secrecy, and shame. According to trauma expert Christine Courtois, healing requires a  stage-oriented approach : Safety and Stabilization : Before revisiting trauma, survivors must build emotional regulation skills and a sense of safety in relationships. Processing the Trauma : This may involve talk therapy, EMDR, expressive arts, or somatic approaches to gently access and reframe traumatic memories. Reconnection and Integration : Survivors begin to reclaim their identity, build healthy relationships, and redefine their sense of self beyond the abuse. Jennifer Fre...

When a spouse dies, memory plays tricks on us. Grief is not just about missing someone—it’s about trying to make sense of a life that is now suddenly only past tense. One of the most complicated truths of bereavement is that we often don't remember our loved ones as they truly were. We remember them as either an icon —glorified, idealized, a figure bathed in soft light—or as an ogre , the shadowy figure who made life hard in their final days. Neither version tells the full truth. The "icon" memory is seductive. It’s easier to remember only the best—the laughter, the shared victories, the warm touches and private jokes. We place them on a pedestal so high we forget the arguments, the disappointments, the human flaws. It's a comforting illusion, but it can leave us feeling confused when our true memories sneak back in. We wonder if we’re betraying them by remembering anything less than perfection. On the other end of the spectrum is the "ogre" narrative, espec...