Let's start with the big one. Why? Why would you want to learn how to forgive an affair. If you've reached this point, then you've already done some searching within and it's likely you've figured this one out already. The reasons why one would forgive such a betrayal are as various as the reasons people have affairs in the first place. Everyone's situation is different. Love is the best reason of all, at least the best one I can think of. But let's take it a step farther. Obviously, you love the person who hurt you, otherwise what they did wouldn't hurt. So why forgive? I say love. What better reason is there?

Another thing to consider: forgive the offender for YOUR sake, not theirs. No matter if you're a man or a woman, if you were cheated on, you might feel like it was something you did wrong, and maybe you did. But you didn't take your loved one's clothes off and force them to lay with another. If you're serious about learning how to forgive an affair, and you feel like you have some blame here, then forgiving can be double rewarding in this particular situation. Not only can you forgive the offender, but you can recognize where you went wrong, and forgive yourself, paving the way for a repairing your relationship and making it stronger than it ever was before.

You will feel an incredible emotional release once you forgive. So imagine having the strength to forgive the one who betrayed you and forgiving yourself. Your mental health will increase immeasurably. If you learn how to forgive the illicit affair, as well as yourself for any shortcomings, you will stand a much better chance of putting your relationship back on track and genuinely enjoying each other again. It will not happen all over night, but anything worth having is worth fighting for.