The sibling that got away with everything. The coworker that scored your promotion. The “friend” who stopped including you in group conversations.

We’re all familiar with resentment, and the mutated ball of anger, hurt, disgust and annoyance it leaves in the pit of our stomachs. Whether someone outright betrayed you or you were inadvertently treated unfairly, resentment can slowly creep into your heart and rob you of joy and gratitude. It’s a human response, but a dangerous one if left to fester.

In today’s episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss how resentment can erode our relationships and our ability to trust. They also unpack an 8-step checklist designed to help us assess the situation fairly and avoid resentment’s slippery slope:

1. 
   
2. Acknowledge what you’re feeling
   
3. Talk about it with someone you trust
   
4. Own up to your part in the situation
   
5. Consider your expectations
   
6. Develop conflict-resolution skills
   
7. Journal
   
8. Practice forgiveness
   
9. Look to Scripture
   

You may not be able to restore a healthy relationship with the person who wronged you, but you can arrive at a place where bitterness no longer has a hold on you. All the tools you need to do that are in this episode!

“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” —Saint Augustine

Related

• 
  
• “How to Forgive a Friend Who Betrays You”
  
• “Forgiveness Is the Key to Living a Bitter-Free Life”
  

Mentioned

• 
  
• Check out the Smart Living book series here!
  
• Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
  

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