Resentments - Hope for Today

Old 07-23-2009, 05:07 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Living in a Pinkful Place
Thread Starter
 
MsPINKAcres's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 7,545
Resentments - Hope for Today

Hope for Today – July 23

Courage to Change states, “Resentments mark the places where I see myself as a victim.” Occasionally I felt buried under my resentments. They drained my energy each day as I thought of them. My insides felt corroded from bitterness. Feeling resentment was like drinking poison and hoping the person I resented would die!

I often felt like there was nothing I could do, yet the truth was I knew what to do - work the Steps on my resentments, and let my Higher Power lift them from me. However, I felt such resistance to this that I needed to ask myself, “What do I get out of feeling like a victim?” As I pondered this question, my Higher Power slowly opened my awareness. I felt protected by my resentments. They acted as a barbed wire fence to keep away the people I felt had hurt me. The problem was I kept pricking my own skin on the barbs. I also was comfortable with my resentments. I wondered who I’d be without them, because they were as familiar to me as my own skin.


Realizing that my resentments are not necessary or protective opened the door to change. I began relying on my Higher Power to show me healthier ways to speak for myself in situations where I felt hurt or damaged. I took a deep breath and allowed my Higher Power to dismantle a powerfully self-destructive character defect. I became entirely willing.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Do I have a character defect I use to protect myself? Do I need it anymore?


“It is not enough merely to see that we have faults and make vague resolutions to do better. It takes definite effort to make ourselves receptive.” The Twelve Steps and Traditions, p. 6



I love the part that shares that we have character defects that protected us at one time and we no longer need those for protection. My resentment, angry and sometimes even hate kept a wall up that protected me. Or should i say - I THOUGHT it protected me.

I still felt the pain from the affects of loving and caring for people that are alcoholics and addicts. Letting go of these resentments, the anger and hate - has helped me heal and become a happier person, regardless of the actions of any other person.

It is what is healthier for ME. For me, that is what recovery is all about.
ME!!

Love & HUGS,
Rita
MsPINKAcres is offline  
Old 07-23-2009, 05:41 AM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Ann
Nature Girl
 
Ann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
Feeling resentment was like drinking poison and hoping the person I resented would die!
I heard this early in my recovery and have never forgotten it. Resentments hurt me far more than the person I resent. I am told the antidote to resentments is forgiveness, which is not excusing nor condoning the action nor allowing it to ever happen again, but just letting go of the pain I attach to it.

Thanks for this reading today, it`s something I needed to see.

Hugs
Ann is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:26 AM.