Ann

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go

New Beginnings

Resentments are the blocks that hold us back from loving others and ourselves. Resentments do not punish the other person; they punish us. They become barriers to feeling good and enjoying life. They prevent us from being in harmony with the world. Resentments are hardened chunks of anger. They loosen up and dissolve with forgiveness and letting go.

Letting go of resentments does not mean we allow the other person to do anything to us that he or she wants. It means we accept what happened in the past, and we set boundaries for the future. We can let go of resentments and still have boundaries.

We try to see the good in the person or the good that ultimately evolved from whatever incident we feel resentful about. We try to see our part.

Then we put the incident to rest.

Praying for those we resent helps. Asking God to take our resentments from us helps too.

What better way to begin a New Year than by cleaning the slate of the past, and entering this one free of resentments.

Higher Power, help me become ready to let go of my resentments. Bring any resentment that is hidden within me, and blocking me, to the surface. Show me what I need to do to take care of my self by letting go of resentments, and then help me do that.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.

lightseeker

Thanks Ann - I really needed to hear this this morning. It was a reminder to me to utilize my self discipline to reset more appropriate boundaries and to develop coonsequences that I will adhere too. I think that my resentments come from the little girl inside of me that doesn't trust the other parts of me to take care of her. Once I set the boundaries and know that I will adhere to them my resentments begin to slip away. I pray for the strength to do what I need to do to take care of me.

Thanks - Donna

sleepygoat

Resentments have kicked my ass so bad in the past, that these days I really do try to get rid of them as soon as I realize I have one (like that game, "hot potatoe"). Because they are just not worth the lost time, the wasted energy, the obsession, the wallowing in negative emotions...

Ann

They say resentments are like drinking poison...and expecting the other person to get sick.

Resentments hurt me, long after the other person has even given it a thought. Forgiveness is the antidote, not that we allow it to happen again or approve what happened, forgiveness means "we" let go of the pain we have attached to it. How freeing that is.

Hugs

hope213

thanks for this post. i need to be reminded of this. i have carried so much resentment toward my daughter in law in the part she played against my a.s. & against herself. i forgot to remember the pain he put on her & how young she was & innocent she was when it came to drugs. today i will pray for her & let it go once again. i will forgive her for using me & my husband & chalk it up as an experience in life.i will give to to my h.p. & not take it back this time.

caileesnana

Resentments do not punish the other person; they punish us.

I have only recently learned this. I used to think I was punishing them and by forgiving or letting go, they win. They didn't win and neither did I.

I'm slow, but learning!

susan