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Today's
quotation:
Resentment
always hurts you more than it does the person you
resent. While
your offender has probably forgotten the offense
and gone on with life, you
continue to stew in your pain,
perpetuating the past. Listen: those who hurt
you in the past
cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the
pain
through resentment. Your past is past! Nothing will change it.
You are only
hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake, learn from it, and
then let it go.
Rick Warren
The Purpose Driven Life
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Today's
Meditation:
Resentment
is simply one of those things that you have to let go of
if you want any chance at all to be happy. Carrying
around resentment in your heart and mind is sure
prevention of so many good things, not the least of which
are peace of mind and peace of heart-- both of these things
are simply impossible as long we're actively resentful of
someone else for any reason at all.
When
we resent someone, we're letting a past action
control our present moments. We're letting ourselves
continue to feel negative emotions over something that's
long since over, and there really is no sense in that at
all. Rick is right: the past can't continue to
hurt you unless you allow it to do so, unless you choose
to hold on to the pain of yesterday. It's important
that we not cause ourselves present pain by focusing on
yesterday's transgressions.
Think
of all the things you can let go of when you choose to let
go of the resentment that has been keeping you down.
When you choose to let go of the resentment, you also
choose to let go of anger, frustration, negative thoughts,
pain, and many other things. When you cast away
resentment, you cast away harsh judgment and prejudice,
also. Your life will become much more positive, much
more fulfilling, and much healthier.
We
have to let go of resentment-- I don't know how we can
possibly hope to hold on to it and still be happy
people. The two ideas are simply not compatible with
one another. If you do hold any resentment towards
anyone for something that has happened in the past, do
yourself a favor and put the resentment in the past, also,
where it belongs. Your future present moments will
thank you.
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