Betrayal, hurt, anger, disappointment - sometimes or the other, we must face these negative emotions in our lives. When we dwell on other people's rudeness and insensitivity, we walk into the trap of bitterness and negativism. You constantly think about your disappointment, and then you begin to talk about it, and you are trapped in resentment. How best can we face such disappointments and frustrations? You can choose to react differently by taking responsibility for your own emotions and feelings. You do this in the full awareness that others do not 'cause' your feelings. You choose your own. It may be a Referenciahe to say that it is useless to cry over spilt milk. But it's only too true. We have to learn to let go of disappointments and get on with our lives. We need to forgive. This is especially difficult when other people don't seek our forgiveness, or indeed when they are clearly in the wrong and don't deserve to be forgiven. Never mind - let go! In such situations, forgiveness allows you to let go of a no-win situation and walk out of it unhurt, unscarred by bitterness. People, alas, are not perfect. At home, at work, people are going to hurt you or let you down at one time or another. If we remain in charge of our feelings and are in control of ourselves, we can be two steps ahead of the situation. We will not be victims of circumstances. Let me give you a small exercise. Think of two people who have hurt you, made you angry or let you down recently - two people about whom you still feel animosity. Now ask yourself: What is my animosity doing to me? Do I feel happy holding on to it? Does it make me feel happier? Does it improve my sleep? Is my life better, richer, more meaningful because of my resentment? If the answer to all the above questions is no, then take a courageous decision. Let go! Walk away from disappointment and bitterness. To arrive at forgiveness, one has to pass through four stages. The first is the stage of hurt. 'Someone has wronged me, done something mean to me. The hurt keeps on throbbing within me.' We must remember that it is not 'I' who feels hurt, but the ego. Hurt leads to hate, which is the second stage. 'In some cases, I hate the person so much that I want him to suffer, as much as I am suffering.' Then comes the third stage of healing. 'God's grace descends on me, and I begin to see the person who has hurt me in a new light. My memory is healed, and I am free again.' The fourth stage entails coming together. 'I am anxious to make friends with the person who has hurt me; we both move to a new and healed relationship.' To choose to let go of resentments is to walk the way that leads to a life of freedom and fulfillment. Authored by: Dada JP Vaswani Dada JP Vaswani's birthday is celebrated as Global Forgiveness Day on Aug 2

Deepen your understanding of the Bhagavad Gita: Explore chapter 2 with Sri Gaur Prabhu's guidance