Is there someone at work who you simply can’t forgive? Maybe she got the promotion that you wanted, or he said something thoughtless that still makes you mad. Now you ignore her or badmouth him whenever the opportunity arises.
The verb “to resent” comes from the french word “resentir” which literally means re-feel. But that’s the problem with resentments — we use them to protect ourselves, to feel stronger. Yet, they actually make us sick inside.
As Malachy McCourt said, “Resentment is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die.”
So what do you do with a resentment? Well, the first step is to acknowledge that you’re holding a grudge. The second step is decide whether it’s really helping you. What are you “winning” by hating or resenting the other person? How is it furthering your career?
If the answer is, “very little,” then you may be close to releasing it. Don’t worry, releasing a resentment doesn’t really hurt. You don’t have to give up your principals or suck up to someone you despise. You just have to be willing to release the past and protect yourself going forward. We can discuss more about that next time.
