161 - Forgiveness Part 1 - Healing Yourself Through Compassion For Others

Ronald Reagan nearly died from a bullet to the chest, and the shooter showed zero remorse. So why would Reagan forgive his would-be assassin immediately?

Today we delve into John Hinckley's attempt on President Ronald Reagan, unraveling a tale of pedophelic obsession, copycat violence, and unexpected forgiveness. What drove a man like Hinkley to commit such an act? More importantly, why the hell would Reagan forgive him right away, even while Hinkley seemed so pleased with himself? Todd and Joe will navigate the murky waters of Hinckley's mind, tracing his path from obsession with a young Jodie Foster to the fateful day that shocked America. Through this lens we’ll dissect the societal narratives around forgiveness. Does forgiving the unforgivable make us weak or enlightened? Does religion encourage us to forgive too soon? And why is TV and media obsessed with revenge, while forgiveness is treated like a boring afterthought?

We’ll also delve deep into the benefits and steps of real forgiveness. Exactly how healing is forgiveness for our soul? Is there a medical benefit to forgiving your enemies? Or does forgiveness make us appear weak to our peers, while grudges secretly keep us safe? We’ll discuss the implications of forgiveness through the justice system and mental health. If prison isn’t an institution for rehabilitation and forgiveness, then what is it good for?

Links:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/john-hinckley-jr-seeks-forgiveness-shooting-reagan-presidential/story?id=85925642

https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/news/20190327/why-holding-a-grudge-is-bad-for-your-health

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/04/02/hinckley-pursued-actress-for-months-letter-shows/b0142c0b-48f0-4bcc-ae85-a243838f4de8/

https://metrovoicenews.com/ronald-reagan-forgave-wanted-to-meet-john-hinkley/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k46rWLMXoHc&ab_channel=CBSMornings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRFBgEC_8_U&ab_channel=CNN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEK2pIiZ2I0&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lyCTx8ydhI&ab_channel=NYCouncilonProblemGambling

https://www.amazon.com/Chatter-Voice-Head-Matters-Harness-ebook/dp/B087PL8YVQ

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162 - Forgiveness Part 2 - How To Forgive Loved Ones Without Inviting Betrayal

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Episode 25 - Lisa Nowak & Romantic Obsession