Dan,

Thanks for keeping in touch, and its great to hear you’re doing better. Forgiveness isn’t a light switch, such as one writing and burning and forgiving, and then done. Rather, forgiveness is like learning to pull your foot off the gas pedal, step aside from our aggression, and learn to accept people as they are.

Consider doing some more writing, such as stating your anger toward the men you wish to punch, the anger at your ex, frustration with yourself for falling back into aggression, and so forth, and then at the end, write out the intention to forgive and heal your hurt feelings. Write it down, burn it, offer up your heartfelt prayer to be free of it all. Over time, it erodes. Notice how “it comes up sometimes”, but doesn’t take control like it used to? Great work!

With warmth,
Matt