Today I was listening to NPR or National Public Radio and an Editorial Columnist for the New York Times was on.

And one of his comments was about how people generally don’t liked to be criticized, particularly by their own newspaper.

This got me thinking about life in general. It seems such a shame that people really cannot take criticism.

Even when they ask for it and get it, they often seem to hold a grudge about it.

Let’s face it, all of us have felt hurt and a wish to lash out when others have been critical of us, especially when we feel the criticism is unjust or unwarranted or just plain done out of spite.

But if you really think about it, this is an exercise in character building.

Can I truly let go of it in my heart? Can I truly forgive the person, not just on the surface but to the point where it doesn’t bother me inside even a tiny bit?

Why should our feelings get hurt? I mean they are just feelings after all, they are subject to change from one day to the next.

One day we like someone, the next day we don’t. We human beings are really pretty silly when it comes right down to it.

Not being moved by emotions is the trait of an evolved person. I don’t mean making it look good to the rest of the world, I mean truly not allowing these things called emotions to cause us to hurt someone or even think ill of them.

It is hard, but isn’t it an ultimate challenge?

I think it is.

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I like this book.

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If you think you might be up for the challenge, that book might help you along the way.

all the best,

dave

PS. I would love to hear YOUR comments about how you might truly let go of painful situation and truly NOT hold a grudge.