International Study on Human Flourishing and Forgiveness Circles

 

International Study on Human Flourishing (Harvard) and Forgiveness Circles: Building a Bridge Between Data and Lived Experience

A large international study conducted by Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program across 22 countries offers unprecedented insight into the global practice of forgiveness. The findings are striking in their contrast: about 75% of respondents say they forgive “often” or “always,” while 25% admit they forgive “rarely” or “never.” In other words, one-quarter of humanity remains caught in “unforgiveness.” This reality highlights an urgent need for support and resources to transform wounds into pathways of inner liberation.

Beyond this global picture, the study identifies particularly vulnerable subgroups. Young adults aged 18 to 24, still shaping their identities and relationships, report greater difficulties in forgiving. Unemployed individuals experience socio-economic pressures that deepen their wounds. Those with lower levels of education often lack access to educational and community resources. Finally, individuals with little religious practice have fewer collective frameworks in which to work through forgiveness. These results remind us that forgiveness is not only a personal act but also a communal and social issue.

For those who accompany others, these findings call for renewed practices. Awareness-raising is not enough: we need to create active, embodied spaces where forgiveness can be experienced concretely. The results also stress the importance of tailoring approaches to the contexts and life situations of those concerned. Finally, they underscore a vital distinction: forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. Forgiveness can coexist with the pursuit of justice, the search for truth, and the establishment of protective boundaries, essential for safety and dignity.

This research deeply resonates with the spirit of Forgiveness Circles. Where the numbers reveal a quarter of humanity imprisoned by unforgiveness, the circles offer a simple and accessible path. Through their ritual and symbolic dimension, they allow individuals to lay down an invisible burden, breathe again, and rediscover inner dignity. Open to all, this path bridges the personal journey and the communal dynamic. The Gift of Forgiveness, in its simplicity, responds directly to the universal need revealed by Harvard.

Thus, forgiveness emerges not only as an intimate experience but also as a universal resource for human and collective transformation. This study strengthens my conviction that we must build strong bridges between academic research, community practices, and the path of forgiveness as Olivier Clerc has initiated. It confirms that forgiveness is both an engine of inner healing and a force for social renewal, contributing fully to human flourishing.

“If we do not give of ourselves to something we love, it is not love.”
Marquis Bureau

In the end, the International Study on Human Flourishing and Forgiveness Circles converge: one highlights the scale of the need, the other offers an embodied path to respond. Together, they open the way toward genuine human flourishing.

Personal Note

I am personally engaged in research on human flourishing with a team of scholars at Saint Paul University, where I am also responsible for relaunching the Centre on Aging, Community, and Human Flourishing. In addition, I serve as a member of the Learning Commission of the Association Pardon Internationale (API). These commitments sustain my conviction that forgiveness and human flourishing together form an essential pathway for our contemporary societies.