Would you consider yourself a bitter person? Most of us wouldn’t. But sometimes bitterness sneaks up on us without it being recognized. It begins to affect the way we think and respond to our daily actions but it also starts to affect our relationships with others and the joy we bring to them. Jump ahead to my newest podcast episode, “Don’t Get Sucked into the Bitterness Trap”, by clicking here!
Bitterness and resentment are involuntary feelings that begin to creep up on us over time. None of us wake up CHOOSING to be bitter. At least, I hope not. ;) But that doesn’t take away from the fact that bitterness does still sneak up. What’s important is that you learn how to recognize when it is arising so that you can put a stop to the feelings before they get too strong.
Let’s reflect on something for a bit, not everyone has the opportunity to work in a career that ignites them and leads them to passion daily, at that’s okay! Is that you? Do you want it to be you or are you perfectly content with going to work, doing your thing, and seeking passion elsewhere? That’s all okay too! But for those that do wish they could be in a passionate role and aren’t, but see others they know that are, bitterness can arise. And if it does, it is time to reevaluate your goals and passions and if you are choosing to take a gamble on those passions or if you are going to choose to remain in the resentment zone because you aren’t quite ready for the work.
Bitterness and resentment work hand-in-hand together. They join up and become a deep, black hole that we all can get stuck in. That thought you have of your coworker getting a raise or a promotion and how you should have gotten one instead of them rather than a joyful feeling of excitement for them...you know that one? That’s bitterness. It’s also envy. And those two emotions culminating together bring on resentment. Resentment of your coworkers, resentment of your boss, resentment of your work environment, and even resentment of yourself and your abilities. If we allow bitterness to, it will take over our minds and our lives! It will begin to take over the happiness that we deserve to have. Especially when it becomes bitterness that we bring home with us.
Choose to avoid letting bitterness creep in. It is a process, and one that may make time for those of us that have been or are stuck in the trap, but it is a process that is worth it.
Begin by slowing the process of thinking and feeling down and listen to your feelings. What are you feeling? Why do you think you are feeling that way? What can you work on and do differently to remove yourself from a negative mindset and grow into a more positive one? In times of eagerness to jump straight to bitterness, pause to ask yourself those questions and reflect on your feelings and what your gut is telling you. That process is called self coaching. And self-coaching is what leads us all to being able to make leaps and bounds of forward motion to moving out of any bitterness.
The choice to move out of the bitter darkness is up to you; nobody can make it for you. If you do not choose to remove yourself from negative thoughts that create envy, bitterness, and resentment, you will get stuck there and it will culminate more and more over time.
Ask yourself, where do you stand? Are you feeling bitter and want to move out of it? Listen to today’s podcast to dive deeper into understanding the bitterness and how you can transition out of it.
You deserve to be able to move out of the bitterness and into your own joyful, peaceful, and gracious life!