Favorite Inspirational Quotes

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel.  Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.

Catherine Ponder

I certainly understand the first part of this inspirational quote.  When you hold resentment toward a person or circumstance you are in, then you are bound because that is what you are thinking about.  It is what you are focusing on, your resentment or anger.  This applies to envy as well.

You know how that resentment feels in the pit of your stomach.  It actually can make you feel a touch sick depending upon how strong it is.

Ponder says in this quote that forgiveness is the key to getting free of that bond.  I believe it is actually more like forgive and forget because if you don’t let it go and then think of it no more, well, then, you still think of it.  That is not really forgiveness and you are still bound.

This is what makes forgiveness so hard when the situation or person is still constantly in your life.  Forgiving one happenstance can be done.  Forgiving and forgetting when it keeps happening is what is hard.  You can’t forget as the person is still there still doing whatever causes the resentment in you.

I guess another way to look at it is that this resentment is your own emotion.  Learning how to disallow that emotion when the person does whatever causes your resentment is what is really important.  Learning not to allow the stimulus to trigger your normal response of resentment or anger or envy is what will help most.  If you can’t get away from the person or situation, what else are you left with?

I guess this just goes to show I have a long way to go when it comes to forgiving and forgetting.  If anyone has any good techniques or resources for doing this, I would love to hear it.

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