But in interpersonal relationships, we may expect others to behave the way we want and expect that it will make them behave that way.  When they do not, we are perturbed and resentful. Think about our own lives, where we were resentful when people did not live up to our expectations. Psychologists state that: “Expectations are premeditated resentment.”

Thought forms that run rampant in the mind limit our free will. We think that if we worry, we will be able to hold our lives together. Attempting this, we habitually reconsider daily concerns with no resolution, with no purpose other than to occupy the mind. The recurring thoughts feed new anxieties. Only when we become aware and control them will we truly have free will.

When we make a resolution, our conscious mind wants to act, but impressions in our minds talk back and steal our energy. The mind is programmed to think. It cannot be quiet. If we do not engage the mind with productive thoughts, it will automatically create a series of thoughts from stored impressions. Mataji, Ma Yoga Shakti, always stated: ”An idle mind is a devil’s workshop.” Yes, unresolved energy and impressions in our subconscious mind surface when the mind is idle.

Courage creates a willingness to try new experiences. With courage, we gain the capacity to look within honestly and face fears and character defects. We begin to take responsibility for ourselves and accept accountability for our actions, rather than blaming parents or society.

We desire to live a happy and fulfilling life. If we hold on to anything negative from the past, we carry the offender’s actions into the present, reliving them every time we remember and are unwilling to forgive. This means we are giving the offender free access to inflict pain on us repeatedly. No matter how difficult the experience may have been, we must ask: “Why are we holding on?