FORGIVENESS: CONCEPT, ITS APPLICATION IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Abstract

Recent focus on Positive Psychology directs attention to study the Forgiveness in dealing with personal and professional life situations. In educational set-up, teacher needs to face divergent problems; teamwork with the associates of dissimilar opinions, empathy to the students of eccentric character and forgo friends/family-related conflicts are challenging tasks. This study aims to explore (1) how teachers define forgiveness (2) different influencing factors that lead to forgiveness at work and family, and (3) analyze the effectiveness of forgiveness in coping with professional and personal lives situations. Based on snowball sampling technique, the data from twenty one primary school teachers was collected through open ended interviews. Using Content Analysis Approach was used the study determines the values and application of forgiveness in the unique educational and cultural context of Pakistan. The findings show that religion, sense of accomplishment, need for affiliation/preserving relations and family background are significant drivers of forgiveness. Simultaneously, it reveals that forgiveness play essential role to manage officials, colleagues and student related conflicts such as work load, scarce resources, favoritism, criticism, egocentrism. In addition the findings reveals the positive effects of forgiveness in repairing broken relationships, encouraging positive emotions and influencing physical and mental wellbeing. This original study highlights the worth of forgiveness strategy and its practical implications would energize teachers to tackle personal and professional lives issues.