---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Real forgiveness is about fundamentally…"
description: "\"“Real forgiveness is about fundamentally changing the way you see a situation. It is about clearing away the fog of fear and seeing the situation and t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/kimberly-giles-14875_fear_real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally_2550064.jpg"
---

#  Real forgiveness is about fundamentally changing the way…

![“Real forgiveness is about fundamentally changing the way you see a situation. It is about clearing away the fog of fear and seeing the situation and the people involved accurately. It means acknowledging that there is really nothing to forgive because you are bulletproof and can’t be diminished…” quote by Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/kimberly-giles-14875_fear_real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally_2550064.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/kimberly-giles-14875_fear_real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally_2550064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/kimberly-giles-14875_fear_real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally_2550064.jpg)

> ““Real forgiveness is about fundamentally changing the way you see a situation. It is about clearing away the fog of fear and seeing the situation and the people involved accurately. It means acknowledging that there is really nothing to forgive because you are bulletproof and can’t be diminished anyway. It means seeing this experience as a lesson, embracing what it is here to teach you, and choosing to be more loving toward yourself and others.””

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True forgiveness reshapes perception, removing fear and recognizing that no one can truly diminish us, turning hurt into a lesson of self‑love.

**In simple terms:** Forgiveness is seeing past fear, learning, and loving more.

Key Takeaway

Shift perspective, embrace learning, practice self‑compassion.

Themes

forgiveness self‑growth perception

Mood

calm empowering

Type

transformational psychological

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- therapy sessions
- personal setbacks
- relationship repair

Key Concepts

cognitive reframing emotional resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- What fear blocks your view of a conflict?
- How can you balance self‑love with holding others responsible?

A Different Perspective

May overlook the need for accountability in others.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/)

## Related quotes

> [“The physical power of real love is staggering, because real forgiveness is staggering...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/the-physical-power-of-real-love-is-staggering-because-real/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [“Real forgiveness in close relationships is never easy. It can’t be rushed or engineered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/real-forgiveness-in-close-relationships-is-never-easy-it-can-t-be/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [There's nothing like real forgiveness, a deep-down forgiveness where you don't hold any grudges against people. I forgave everybody for the things they didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/there-s-nothing-like-real-forgiveness-a-deep-down-forgiveness-where/)

[Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/)

> [We can teach a good, formal lesson on forgiveness as a Christian virtue and all the doctrines that are attached to it. But to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/we-can-teach-a-good-formal-lesson-on-forgiveness-as-a-christian/)

[Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/)

> [I think real forgiveness is a gift someone has to earn, and I don’t even have to worry about Kalona asking for my forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-real-forgiveness-is-a-gift-someone-has-to-earn-and-i-don-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To understand somebody else as a human being, I think, is about as close to real forgiveness as one can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-small/to-understand-somebody-else-as-a-human-being-i-think-is-about-as/)

[David Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-small/)

> [When I felt real forgiveness, my heart was set free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/when-i-felt-real-forgiveness-my-heart-was-set-free/)

[Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/)

> [“Remember every mistreatment experience shows up to give you the opportunity to learn love at a deeper level. You don’t need to defend yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/remember-every-mistreatment-experience-shows-up-to-give-you-the/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“I love you, man. Do you really forgive me?” “If you hug me,” Wes said, “I’ll kill you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/i-love-you-man-do-you-really-forgive-me-if-you-hug-me-wes-said-i-ll/)

[Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/)

> [We forgive freely or we do not really forgive at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/we-forgive-freely-or-we-do-not-really-forgive-at-all/)

[Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/)

> [I dont really forgive people I just pretend like it's ok and wait for my opportunity to destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewelizeemint-deelouviou/i-dont-really-forgive-people-i-just-pretend-like-it-s-ok-and-wait-for/)

[Jewelizeemint Deelouviou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewelizeemint-deelouviou/)

> [God is the only one who can really forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-salvador/god-is-the-only-one-who-can-really-forgive/)

Anderson Salvador

> [“Ultimately, we can really forgive people only because Christ rose from the dead; his Resurrection is the guarantee that God can cure every wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-philippe/ultimately-we-can-really-forgive-people-only-because-christ-rose-from/)

[Jacques Philippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-philippe/)

> [“I forgive you, but I won’t forget what you did…not in some threatening, I don’t really forgive you kind of way… but just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/i-forgive-you-but-i-won-t-forget-what-you-did-not-in-some-threatening/)

[Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/)

> [The rule is: we cannot really forgive ourselves unless we look at the failure in our past and call it by its right name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/the-rule-is-we-cannot-really-forgive-ourselves-unless-we-look-at-the/)

[Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/)

## More by Kimberly Giles

> [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“I say this because all religions, accurately understood, will take away your fear of not being enough. I believe there is a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/i-say-this-because-all-religions-accurately-understood-will-take-away/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“You are a divine, irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind soul, and there is no other achievement, title, or role that is more meaningful than that. Your qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/you-are-a-divine-irreplaceable-one-of-a-kind-soul-and-there-is-no/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“Be a good person, do good things, learn, and love other people, but do these things because you love yourself, God, life and people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/be-a-good-person-do-good-things-learn-and-love-other-people-but-do/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“I believe the higher power in the universe is compassionate, understanding, and all-knowing, and that there is nothing you can do that will change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/i-believe-the-higher-power-in-the-universe-is-compassionate/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“You have probably worked your entire life to create a sense of identity around your job, your family, your hobbies, or your physical characteristics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/you-have-probably-worked-your-entire-life-to-create-a-sense-of/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“When you experience the clarity that comes when you choose trust and love, you can see other people accurately – as the same as you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/when-you-experience-the-clarity-that-comes-when-you-choose-trust-and/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“Remember every mistreatment experience shows up to give you the opportunity to learn love at a deeper level. You don’t need to defend yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/remember-every-mistreatment-experience-shows-up-to-give-you-the/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“Fear causes problems in your life because it fogs the lens through which you see yourself and your world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/fear-causes-problems-in-your-life-because-it-fogs-the-lens-through/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“The universe will never force a mindset on you. You have complete free agency to choose fear and suffer unnecessarily if you want to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/the-universe-will-never-force-a-mindset-on-you-you-have-complete-free/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“Every day is a grand adventure into the great unknown and you cannot know what lies around the next corner. So, standing in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/every-day-is-a-grand-adventure-into-the-great-unknown-and-you-cannot/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“The purpose and point of this life is to learn and love – and it may be more specifically to learn to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/the-purpose-and-point-of-this-life-is-to-learn-and-love-and-it-may-be/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“Most people think that once they lose the weight or make more money they will finally feel good about them themselves, but they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/most-people-think-that-once-they-lose-the-weight-or-make-more-money/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“The world needs people who have survived mistakes, tragedies, and trials to help the rest of us through. Where would we be if Victor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/the-world-needs-people-who-have-survived-mistakes-tragedies-and/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“The most significant way you can edify another person is to see them accurately as the same as you, listen to them, and honor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/the-most-significant-way-you-can-edify-another-person-is-to-see-them/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

[Explore all 45 Kimberly Giles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

## More Fear quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/)

[M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/)

> [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

Nagisa Tatsumi

> [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/)

[Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/)

[Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/)

> [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/)

[Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/)

> [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/)

[Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/)

[Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/)

> [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

[Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Real forgiveness is about fundamentally changing the way you see a situation. It is about clearing away the fog of fear and seeing the situation and the people involved accurately. It means acknowledging that there is really nothing to forgive because you are bulletproof and can’t be diminished anyway. It means seeing this experience as a lesson, embracing what it is here to teach you, and choosing to be more loving toward yourself and others.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kimberly Giles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally-changing-the-way-you-see-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally-changing-the-way-you-see-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/kimberly-giles-14875_fear_real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally_2550064.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/kimberly-giles-14875_fear_real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally_2550064.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/kimberly-giles-14875_fear_real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally_2550064.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Real forgiveness is about fundamentally changing the way you see a situation. It is about clearing away the…” — Kimberly Giles",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Kimberly Giles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Real forgiveness is about fundamentally changing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally-changing-the-way-you-see-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/real-forgiveness-is-about-fundamentally-changing-the-way-you-see-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
