01.03.T03-AP — Action Planning Worksheet: Addressing the Symptoms of Unforgiveness

Turning What I Have Discovered into Action

The Reflection Scorecard and Self-Assessment have enabled you to recognise how unforgiveness may manifest itself and identify symptoms that may be evident in your own life.

This Action Planning Worksheet invites you to focus on the symptoms that require your attention and identify practical steps towards addressing them. You are not expected to resolve every issue at once. Concentrate on the areas that are most relevant to you at this point in your journey.

Part A: Reviewing My Discoveries

Refer to your Reflection Scorecard and Self-Assessment as you complete this section.

1. Which symptoms of unforgiveness did you identify in yourself?

2. Which symptom was most evident from your Self-Assessment?

3. How does this symptom manifest itself in your life?

4. Is this symptom associated mainly with one person or offence, or does it occur in different relationships and situations?

5. What have you discovered about the circumstances that tend to trigger this symptom?

Part B: Understanding the Impact

6. How does this symptom affect your thoughts and feelings?

7. How does it affect your words, behaviour or decisions?

8. How does it affect your relationship with the person concerned?

9. Does this symptom affect other relationships or areas of your life? If so, how?

10. What might be the consequences of allowing this symptom to continue unchecked?

Part C: Deciding What Needs to Change

Return to the example in the chapter that most closely relates to the symptom you have identified.

11. Which example from the chapter is most relevant to the symptom you want to address?

☐ Harika and the watermelons
☐ Katalina and Nathani
☐ Nassama and Nyelo
☐ Laheri and her husband
☐ Chipo and Kalema
☐ Abigayeli and Susan
☐ Tibaine and Desta

12. What lesson from that example is particularly relevant to your own situation?

13. In light of that lesson, what would you like to change about the way you currently respond?

14. What would a healthier response look like in practice?

Part D: My Action Steps

15. What is one specific action you can take to begin addressing the symptom you have identified?

16. What will you do differently when this symptom is triggered?

17. Is there a behaviour you need to stop or reduce?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

If yes, what is it?

What will you do instead?

18. Is there a new response or practice you need to develop?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ I am not sure

If yes, what is it?

19. What could make it difficult for you to follow through on these changes?

20. How will you respond when you encounter that difficulty?

Part E: My Action Plan

Bring your decisions together into a practical plan.

The symptom of unforgiveness I want to address:

How it currently manifests itself in my life:

The change I want to make:

The first action I will take:

When I will take this action:

What I will do when the symptom is triggered:

How I will know that I am making progress:

My Commitment

Complete the sentence:

Having recognised how this symptom of unforgiveness manifests itself in my life, I will...

Carrying This Forward

Addressing a symptom does not necessarily mean that the underlying unforgiveness has been fully resolved. The symptoms explored in this chapter can alert you to areas that require further attention.

As you continue through the Guide, what would you like to understand more deeply about the unforgiveness underlying the symptom you have identified?