To hold a grudge is poison to the soul

Are you holding a grudge? Let it go. Here’s a story why you should let it go.

"Last Christmas eve, Danny confided in the Living Water 2012, "my family gathered together in my brother’s birthday. All of the family members were there except for a close cousin whose house was just within walking distance. I discovered that he did not go because of a grudge he had against relatives of my brother’s wife who was also there that night. I knew  what he was talking about — it happened almost 20  years ago!

I told him that he should forget those things because my brother and I had already forgiven those people who ridiculed and maligned our family. He had kept that hatred to himself. I advised him to leave the past behind or else the Lord would never  be able to bless him. I led him to Matthew 6: 14-15, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do  not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

I believe that holding a grudge with someone robs us of our peace. That person is always at the back of our subconscious, and we give him the power to dominate our being. What for?

Therese J. Borchard of “World of Psychology” says, “We all have experienced hurt and pain in our lives. Sometimes we are  exposed to experiences that leave marks that are difficult to heal – especially if we feel someone has wronged us or harmed us. However, we have to let it go for the sake of our soul.”

Borchard issues some tips on how to let go of a grudge. Here they are:

Acknowledge the problem. Figure out what it is that’s causing you to hold a grudge. You have to know what the problem is in order to solve it. When you allow yourself to see the real issue you can then make a choice to move forward from there.

Switch places. To get a better understanding of the other person, try putting yourself in their shoes. This will give you a better understanding of their point of view and behavior. Maybe the person in question was in a lot of pain. This doesn’t justify their negativity, but it will help you understand it. The more you understand the other person and their behavior, the easier it is to let go of a grudge.

Don’t dwell on it. Once you have decided to move on, keep on moving. Don’t put too much thought into the situation or continuously discuss it. It will only make things worse and harder to get over. If ever the issue is brought up in conversation, change the subject or just look at it as the past and leave it there.

Let it go. Letting go allows room for peace and happiness. A long lasting grudge will only drain you physically and emotionally and can surely affect your health. You will use more energy than you can imagine by holding a grudge than you will by letting go.