Olive Green Capital F next to an upside down olive green capital F next to the words Fovgiveness actor

Welcome to Forgiveness Factor! We are here to help you forgive in an unforgiving world and see how forgiving is a part of a mentally healthy life.

We invite you to listen to some short audio boosts, sign up to receive written forgiveness boosts, find out where Tim is speaking, learn a little bit more about forgiveness, connect with the International Forgiveness Institute and more.

Combining research with lived experience to bring a unique point of view.

Wondering where Tim might be speaking next? Check out the Speaking page.


Finding Gold in the People Around You

How can we help people become the unique, special awesome person they are meant to be? It starts with our attitude, followed by actions. Let’s take steps to bring more positivity into our life and others! Families will learn a respectful way to engage with their children, and attendees will gain insights into honoring and respecting the people they interact with.

Webinar with WI FACETS
Wednesday, March 13 12:00pm-1:00pm CST
Recording coming soon

Forgiveness Boost


Coming soon

Forgiveness Audio Boosts

Forgiveness Factor is excited to partner with Life102.5 FM radio to talk forgiveness. Every Tuesday morning, around 7:15am and 9:15am, you can listen to a conversation with Tim Markle, from Forgiveness Factor, and Dave Conour, from Mornings with Dave. Tune in at 102.5FM around the Madison area or online at https://life1025.com/.


Public Health and forgiveness

Are you interested in “sponsoring” Forgiveness Factor Audio Boosts? Let’s talk — Tim@forgivenessfactor.org


Listen to past Audio Boosts on our Audio Boost page.


Upcoming Events:

Waves washing onto a beach

Freedom Through Forgiveness

Registration – https://stoughtonhealth.com/event/freedom-through-forgiveness/#rsvp-now

FREE In-Person Workshop
Wednesdays – April 3, 10, 17, 24 May 1, 15 (excludes 5/8)
12:30 to 2 p.m.
Stoughton Area Senior Center

Not being able to forgive can lead to pain in many areas of our lives. We know we should forgive, we want to forgive, but how?

Join instructor Tim Markle, to learn methods of working toward forgiveness and learning to live a forgiving life.

Questions? Please contact Stoughton Health Community Education at (608) 877-3498.

Forgive word written on wood block.

Forgiving in an Unforgiving World

Forgiveness gives us a new way to view the people around us, and ourselves, that is respectful, honoring, and merciful. Develop your skill of forgiveness in classes starting April 3.

For more information or to register, click here!
Questions? Contact Kari Borne at 262-472-1003 or bornek@uww.edu 

Community Engagement Center Whitewater | Wednesdays April 3 – May 8, 2024 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm.

Recent Events:

Role of Forgiveness In Recovery Was a virtual event with the Great Lakes Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Includes video and slides.

Recent Podcasts

Empowered Caregiver Aired 12.27.23
https://civicmedia.us/shows/empowered-caregiver

Forgiveness Factor

Guest: Tim Markle
This week, host Liza Hellenbrand is joined by Tim Markle, founder and director of the Forgiveness Factor. Why talk about forgiveness and caregiving? Because, Liza says, forgiveness is an important tool in not just helping others, but helping yourself as a caregiver.
As a caregiver himself, Tim explains why it is important to forgive the people you’re caring for when they say or do something hurtful. How do you forgive someone who doesn’t feel any regret? How do you forgive someone who is no longer with us? Tim helps us figure out these tough questions.


Friends Up Front with Christine and Michele Aired 9.23.23
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Yy9mZQQHWR2cgHyiMmr6d?si=5fOe1PmYT0yD7YWFwc1bTg

How to Forgive in an Unforgiving World with Tim Markle

Forgiveness is a powerful tool as it can help you to find peace within yourself. In this episode, writer and speaker, Tim Markle, gives insights on forgiveness allowing you to step into your power. Listen in for simple, proven steps Tim shares to help you forgive in an unforgiving world and see how forgiving is a part of a mentally healthy life. His work proves that a better life begins when you understand the powerful act of releasing resentment and anger towards someone who has caused pain or harm. Forgiveness doesn’t condone the wrongdoing, but rather, it liberates the forgiver from the burden of carrying that negativity.

Embracing forgiveness can lead to:
Healing
Stronger relationships
A renewed sense of emotional well-being.
Forgiveness is a profound gift that we give not only to others, but also to ourselves.


Not Your Momma’s Autism with Lola Dada-Olley Aired 6.5.23 (Episode 3 of Season 6)
https://notyourmamasautism.com/season-6

Healthcare Delivery, Parenting, Advocacy and Little Forgiveness Along the Way

JUN 05, 2023 SEASON 6 EPISODE 3

Lola Dada-Olley

In this episode, I speak with Tim Markle, the Southern Regional Center Director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center.  We speak about delivery of health care to diverse populations, his own experience as a dad to an autistic son and how understanding the power of forgiveness has allowed him to become a better person, father, husband and advocate. 

https://notyourmamasautism.com/
https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/
https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/


Learn more about inviting Tim to speak on the Speaking page.


The words we say

If you are like me, you grew up having to say “I forgive you” when someone said “I’m sorry.” As you got older, you may have learned people don’t always say “I’m sorry.” And the words “I forgive you” didn’t magically make forgiveness happen. ​Or maybe you listened to stories, teachings or sermons on forgiveness and you were convinced that forgiveness was a good idea. But no-one really taught you how to forgive.

Man with large mustache and soul patch wearing a red knit cap with an angry look on his faceWomen with dark hair resting her hand on her forehead in front of a brown coffee mugForgiveness? No way!
We have all been hurt.
Sometimes that hurt can change us.
Sometimes we can’t let it go.
Sometimes we just want to forget it ever happened.
Sometimes we try to hide it.
​Sometimes we try and try and try to get rid of the anger, the pain, the disappointment, the shame, the uncomfortableness.
We even yell at it to go away.
But it’s still here.

Some of us try avoidance, drinking, isolation, yelling, blaming, eating–
anything to get rid of the pain, to deal with the resentment.

Light bulbs hanging from tree branches above the word HOPE spelled out in light boxesThere is hope!

For thousands of years philosophers and theologians have promoted forgiveness. Forgiveness is core to many worldviews. A few decades ago, psychologists and others began to test and research how people forgive and if forgiveness is good for us. The great news is their work has resulted in ways we can learn to forgive one another. AND what they have learned is available to everyone. It is available to you.

Tim Markle has been teaching forgiveness for many years in Wisconsin. He has been on his forgiveness journey for much longer than that. In addition to his work with Forgiveness Factor, Tim is also a contributing writer and speaker for the International Forgiveness Institute. He is available to speak about forgiveness and other topics. Tim’s teachings are based on the fantastic work of Dr. Robert Enright, “the father of forgiveness research.”

To receive regular updates on the Forgiveness Factor Community, sign up to receive our encouraging Forgiveness Boosts.