Resentment Itself

Resentments are an immediate red flag that a person is
sinking to "dry drunk" status, no matter if that person
ever had a drink in their entire lives, or not.

The many different types of resentments are infinite, for
instance, a knee jerk resentment, as when a car cuts in
front of you, or a thought you just can't let go of goes
rolling round and round in your head, replaying the tape of
a past injustice.

Or when a patient tells me a wrong committed to her and I
find myself rising up in indignation, as if that's going to
save the day.

The spiritual practice here is to be conscious of any and
all resentments, ask for help from the unseen forces,
imploring them (angels and guides) to remove these blocks
that resentments represent.

The twelve steps of AA, especially steps 4 through 9, are
especially meant to liberate consciousness of any more
tendencies toward rancor or malice. The negative emotions
either gradually or dramatically fall away, if we are
sincere and honest.

An AA old-timer one time told me that all fear,
resentments, regrets and self-pity vanish the moment we get
down on one knee, or two, if we are able, asking for divine
help.

Perhaps this down- on -your- knees -position is necessary
many times a day, or every single moment all day long!!

Yet the old-timer said that the negatives vanish quickly
and we can then get on with the business of living and let
living.

As Bill W. emphasized, resentment is the number one
offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else.
>From the pits of resentments stem all spiritual disease.
When the spiritual malady is overcome, we are healed both
mentally and physically.

We deal with resentments by setting them to paper. We list
persons, institutions or principles with whom we are angry.
We ask ourselves why we are angry. According to Bill W.,
self-esteem, the pocketbook, ambitions, personal
relationships (including sex) are hurt or threatened.

The list may look something like this:

I'm resentful at: The Cause:
Affects:

Mr. Jones He ripped me off My
pocketbook

and so on.

We go back through our lives with complete honesty and a
thorough self-appraisal.

How did I contribute to what I am blaming someone else for?

What part did I play?

All resentments boil down to fear.

So we then place all of our fears on paper, even if no
resentment is affiliated with the fear.

And give these over to the higher power, however you choose
to see this power.

This power is infinite as compared to our finite selves.

As we review our conduct over every year of our lives, we
ask: How have I been selfish, dishonest, or inconsiderate?

And since I am evaluating the part I played in all of this,
I ask: How was I at fault?

What could I have done differently?

Am I truly sorry for what I have done? Because herein lies
the key.

If I am sorry, and allow my higher power to take me to
higher realms of giving and living, then forgiveness is the
likely outcome for all concerned.

If I refuse to be sorry, then my conduct will continue to
harm the people in my life as well as myself.

The choice is in the giving, the living and let living.

One Day At A Time.

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Thanks to Bill Wilson for giving us the spiritual
principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the
creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career
and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find
out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Check Out Kate's
Blog: http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com
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