Resentment

I'm having some trouble with resent lately. Life has left me feeling a bit emotionally raw recently, with wounds closer to the surface and my usual degree of detachment seems to be absent. A Course In Miracles tells us that there are no justified resentments and this is true. We can't justify them due to the damage they cause - too all parties concerned. It's a matter of taking responsibility - yes, even if we feel that the other party truly is to blame. You see how we feel and respond is up to no one other than ourselves. Our emotional health is our ow responsibility - and yet we grant others so much power and control over our emotional state. And then we blame everyone but ourselves - until too we lay blame at our own feet and the becomes more fuel for the flame of resentment. In Jungian psychology  they talk often of the Shadow - our individule and collective consciousness projected outward. Unrecognized the shadow can be quite a destructive force - yet acknowledged it becomes our greatest alley in our quest for emotional freedom. All that we view of the world is an extension of our interpretation of what we see and the labels we call them - it's not necessary the truth - just our interpretation of what the truth is. This wisdom is found in modern psychology , Toltec thought, and Buddhist psychology other schools of inner thought. When we are able to distinguish that what we see, hear and tell ourselves (and others) may not be the ultimate truth we have created a bit of emotional space in which we can recognize the shadow at work - and in this space forgive and let go of resentment. It's not easy - inner work seldom is - but for joy and freedom - it's needed.

Peace,
Eric