View Single Post
Old 12-02-2019, 09:34 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Gottalife
12 Step Recovered Alcoholic
 
Gottalife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,613
That is a great question. In AA experience, resentment kills more alcoholics than anything else. It is the most common manifestation of self, and in our literature we state that selfishness and self centeredness is the root of our troubles.

No one likes this part of the book, page 62. There is one idea suggested in step four which is a useful way to tackle resentment in early sobriety.

"This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. When a person offended we said to ourselves, "This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done."

We avoid retaliation or argument. We wouldn't treat sick people that way. If we do, we destroy our chance of being helpful. We cannot be helpful to all people, but at least God will show us how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one."

There are many more approaches but they might just complicate the picture if one was not trying to adopt the AA way of life. Hope that helps.
Gottalife is offline