People often have anger and resentment towards others who have tried to hurt them in their careers, but it is important to learn how to let go of negative feelings about the people we resent.

Here's a story to keep in mind: There once was a man who got bitten in the arm by a poisonous snake. All he could think about was how pissed off he was at this poisonous snake for biting him, and so he didn't relax and calmly see that he could solve his problem (save his life) if he just stopping being pissed off and started sucking out the poison from his arm. He died.

There's an important lesson to be learned from this mistake: Forgiveness is a logical act of self-interest. As Carrie Fisher once said, "Resentment is the poison you swallow hoping the other person will die." It's always more powerful to be peaceful right now, rather than feel right about the pain of your past. Thinking about blame, anger, and resentment will only create a chaotic static in your head that will stop you from moving forward productively at the office. Peacefulness is power. Peacefulness will help you see answers and be at your productive best.

Here are a few powerful peace-of-mind techniques:

1. Take inventory of all the people you resent, and consciously decide to forgive and forget.

2. You can convince yourself to forgive by reminding yourself:

• When you resent someone you are giving this person control of your emotions.
• When you respond with hate to hate, anger to anger, bitterness to bitterness, you are ironically becoming part of the problem.
• When you train your brain to consistently be more loving in its thoughts, you attract positive people and positive results.

-Karen Salmansohn, 1-Minute Career Therapist