Monday, February 21, 2011

Rooting Out Resentment

"Resentment is like swallowing poison and then waiting for the other person to die."

I've been thinking a lot about resentment and how it eats at at you relentlessly if you let it. It is a wicked bad waste of energy--like weeds in a garden that are best pulled out by the root.

Roots of Resentment:
1. Comparing your lot in life with others
2. Doing things for somebody else they could be doing for themselves
3. Imprisoning yourself by limiting your perceptions of what is possible
4. Refusing to accept what is
5. Dwelling in the past

Remedies for Resentment:
1. Being grateful for what you do have
2. Setting boundaries
3. Thinking outside the box, trying new things, keeping an open mind
4. Letting it be
5. Forgiving and letting go

Ah. That feels better.

2 comments:

Jim L said...

It's something I struggle with. I find it interesting that there is somewhat of a balance between "roots" #3 and #4, when you think about it.

Lynn said...

Yes, one of the hardest things is balancing those two and seeing what you can and cannot change.