Individual Development, EQ, Jung, Pearman Personality Integrator

Resentment: A Case Illustration While walking down the beautiful Malecon walkway in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico during a recent vacation, I overheard two individuals in an animated conversation discussing how much they resented what another person had said to them several years ago. Their expressiveness was such that it was unavoidable to hear their conversation. Their resentment toward an individual not present was strong and prompted a considerable amount of disclosure with one another.  This prompted my own reflection on the number of times I’ve worked with teams and resentments eroded teaming and just how powerful emotions can be such that an individual is imprisoned—literally “captured” by the emotion so that they are less free to choose how to respond in, much less enjoy, the moment. There are many aspects to the emotion of resentment, which have been written about by others. Nelson Mandela famously said, “Resentment is like drinking a poison and then hoping it will kill you

Your computer alert prompts you that you have ten minutes before your next meeting.  Looking at your calendar you realize that you need to print the minutes from the last meeting which was last week.  As you locate the email and print the file, you reach for the file on your desk with all of the notes from previous meetings.  A quick scan prompts your memory on the issues last week and what is likely to be discussed this week.   As you stand and reach for the special ink pen your teenage daughter gave you last week, you say out loud to yourself that you are enjoying the elegance of her gift and her recognition that you would enjoy it.  You walk to the meeting and immediately upon entering the room begin to talk to each person, telling a joke or asking about their previous weekend.  To the team member who was ill last week you ask how he is doing.  When the boss walks in and asks if everyone is ready, you ask if we can list all of the agenda items so we will know where we are going