Resentment: The Poison We Drink

Today's Reflection

Step Four asks us to make "a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves," and one of the most important things we examine is our resentments. Resentments are the number one offender in recovery—they block us from our Higher Power and keep us trapped in the past.

When we hold onto resentment, we give power to the people and situations that hurt us. We replay old wounds over and over, keeping ourselves stuck in anger and bitterness. Meanwhile, the objects of our resentment have moved on with their lives, often completely unaware of the space they occupy in our minds.

Letting go of resentment doesn't mean excusing harmful behavior or pretending we weren't hurt. It means refusing to let past hurts continue to poison our present. It means choosing freedom over being right. When we work through our resentments in the Fourth and Fifth Steps, we begin to release their grip on us.

Today, if you're carrying resentment, know that it's hurting you more than anyone else. Consider talking to your sponsor about working through it. Freedom from resentment is one of the greatest gifts of recovery.