Revenge is the default setting of mankind according to David Richo. In his book The Five Things We Cannot Change .. and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them, he states that it takes a spritual practice to override the natural impulse of revenge and retaliation. He points out, "[t]he challege is to meet our losses with loving-kindness, the commitment to act and think lovingly toward others, especially when they test our patience or act hurtfully toward us." Richo says this helps us to keep our hearts open and embrace the hurt. We must be vulnerable, but not abused. The acts of loving-kindness free us from the "retaliatory instinct of ego."
It takes a spiritual practice with moral consequences in order to forgive those who are not sorry for how they have offended us. A commitment to nonretaliation is necessary. Even though we may feel healthy anger about the mistreatment we must let go of the blame and the need to punish. This prevents harm to the soul of the retaliator. As Socrates wrote: "It is better to suffer an injustice than to commit one." It is our soul that is damaged by revenge.
Survive your Divorce! Divorce Survival Tactics.
It takes a spiritual practice with moral consequences in order to forgive those who are not sorry for how they have offended us. A commitment to nonretaliation is necessary. Even though we may feel healthy anger about the mistreatment we must let go of the blame and the need to punish. This prevents harm to the soul of the retaliator. As Socrates wrote: "It is better to suffer an injustice than to commit one." It is our soul that is damaged by revenge.
Survive your Divorce! Divorce Survival Tactics.
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