Knowing this and practicing it have saved me from spending many hours building up resentments and reliving incidents that were best forgotten.
Before I practiced Step Ten, my resentments were like viral infections. I would relive an incident over and over, building up anger and rehearsing future arguments, which consumed countless hours of my mental life. The power of practicing Step Ten is that it immediately interrupts this cycle. By acknowledging my part and making an immediate correction or amend, I neutralize the toxic energy of the incident.
This practice saves me from spending hours building up resentments and reliving incidents that were best forgotten. It costs me the satisfying drama of self-pity, but it grants me mental peace. The willingness to process the event quickly keeps my consciousness clear and my mind present. My past ceases to be a weapon I use against my present self.
When I find myself replaying a past incident in my mind today, I will use that as a cue to stop. I will immediately redirect my thoughts to three things I am grateful for in the present moment.
Today’s Reminder
Resentment is a debt I pay repeatedly for an incident that has already passed.
Carry this peace in your pocket.
Never miss a day. Get this reflection and 365 others delivered to your phone daily, and start your journaling practice in the app.
Curated by members of the Al-Anon community for Daily Growth, LLC. Grounded in the Twelve Steps and the contemplative tradition of Al-Anon.