January 25, 2005

Harboring Resentments is Self-Imposed Slavery

"It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness." Big Book Page 66
The moment you start to resent a person you become that person's slave. He or she controls your dreams, absorbs your digestion, robs you of your peace of mind and good will, and takes away the pleasure of your work.

A person you resent ruins your spirituality and nullifies your prayers. You cannot take a vacation without that person going along! He or she destroys your freedom of mind and hounds you wherever you go. There is no way to escape the person you resent.

That person is with you when you are awake and invades your privacy when you sleep. That person is close beside you when you eat, when you drive your car, and when you are on the job.

You can never have efficiency or happiness. The person you resent influences even the tone of your voice. He or she requires you to take medicine for indigestion, headaches, and loss of energy. That person even steals your last moment of consciousness before you go to sleep.

So if you want to be a slave, harbor your resentments.

You are reading from the book:
Twelve Step Prayer Book - Second Edition
Copyright 2004, Hazelden Foundation

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a powerful analogy that is, resentments as self-imposed slavery! I try to remember the same idea as the saying that goes something like, "Don't rent-out the space in your head to others or resentments."
Bo