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Post Info TOPIC: Today's Gift 04-23


MIP Old Timer

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Today's Gift 04-23
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Let go of resentments

Resentments are sneaky, tricky little things. They can convince us they're justified. They can dry up our hearts. They can sabotage our happiness. They can sabotage love.

Most of us have been at the receiving end of an injustice at some time in our lives. Most of us know someone who's complained of an injustice we've done to him or her. Life can be a breeding ground for resentments, if we let it.

"Yes, but this time I really was wronged," we complain.

Maybe you were. But harboring resentment isn't the solution. If it were, our resentment list would resemble the Los Angeles telephone directory. Deal with your feelings. Learn whatever lesson is at hand. Then let the feelings go.

Resentments are a coping behavior, a tool of someone settling for survival in life. They're a form or revenge. The problem is, no matter whom we're resenting, the anger is ultimately directed against ourselves.

Take a moment. Search your heart. Have you tricked yourself into harboring resentment? If you have, take another moment and let that resentment go.

God, grant me the serenity that acceptance brings.

You are reading from the book:

1976.jpg

More Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie

More Language of Letting Go © 2000 by Melody Beattie. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of Hazelden.

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MIP Old Timer

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So hard.

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MIP Old Timer

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It takes practice Tasha, ... ... ... just as you, yourself, practice the piano in order to master the skill needed to produce beautiful, moving, music ... we must try to learn these skills too, in order to not get burned ourselves ... when resentments pop up, and they will, we learn that to hold onto to them or to even use them to seek revenge, it always turns out we do more damage to ourselves than we will ever do to the individual at issue here ... ... ...

Sometimes I see people staying sober purely on a resentment ... their anger so great as to prove to someone else they can do it ... this is not the type sobriety I want ... I want the kind where peace and serenity actually have deep meaning ... a calming effect rather than sitting around in turmoil over some silly control issue or resentment issue ... It took some time for me, but I can truly say today, I do not 'rent' space in my head for thoughts that are negative that involve someone else and their problems ... it only becomes my problem if I invite it into my thinking ...

It's just like what I've heard around the rooms of AA, 'holding as resentment against a person is like me holding a red hot coal in my hand, getting ready to throw it at that person ... I'm the only one getting burned' ... ... ... and that has truly been my experience in every sense of the word ...

SO, ... ... ... it's NOT so hard if we practice ... practice these principles in all our affairs ...


Love ya and God Bless,
Pappy



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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'



MIP Old Timer

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I have one big resentment and that one seems to be staying put. Better than resenting everyone and everything like before I guess : )

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MIP Old Timer

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justadrunk wrote:

I have one big resentment and that one seems to be staying put. Better than resenting everyone and everything like before I guess : )


 Oh my, ... ... ... yes, I guess you're right, but ... ... ... as it says above:

Most of us have been at the receiving end of an injustice at some time in our lives. Most of us know someone who's complained of an injustice we've done to him or her. Life can be a breeding ground for resentments, if we let it.

"Yes, but this time I really was wronged," we complain.

Maybe you were. But harboring resentment isn't the solution. If it were, our resentment list would resemble the Los Angeles telephone directory. Deal with your feelings. Learn whatever lesson is at hand. Then let the feelings go.

I just wish you success in putting that one to bed ... sooner the better in my book ... if this is still about 'inlaws', then just consider they are in another world, apart from yours ... you can keep your part of the world clean without having to be influenced by theirs ... and you well know that what they think about you is none of your business, so go your own path toward serenity and give any of that negative stuff up ... God is better at handling stuff like that than we are ... let Him/Her deal with it ... 



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MIP Old Timer

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: )

Thanks - it's one of those things that I've hashed out so much that over all, I am fine. The treatment they give me is a reflection of them, not me. It's uncomfortable, but it's not the end of the world, and I can love them... just not like them : ) Maybe it doesn't even fall under resentment anymore... maybe it does... but I'm not going to drink over it... or lose sleep over it... or spend anymore time worrying about it!

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MIP Old Timer

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Tasha, that sounds like letting it go to me rather than an active resentment. Quite a healthy approach, I'd say.

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