Have you ever resented someone—not because they wronged you—but because they did something you didn’t believe you could?
Maybe they left the life they were “supposed” to live.
Maybe they set a boundary you didn’t know you were allowed to have.
Maybe they chose joy over duty, truth over comfort, or rest over over-responsibility.
And it triggered you.
That’s resentment, yes. But it’s not the villain you’ve been taught it is.
It’s an emotional flare that says:
“Something in me is not okay with this… and I don’t know why.”
And when we dig deeper, we often find:
- Unspoken expectations we placed on others.
- Parts of ourselves we’ve disowned or denied.
- A quiet longing to do something similar—if only we believed we could.
Why Do We Resent?
According to research, resentment isn’t just about anger. It’s a layered emotional experience that often includes:
- Disappointment
- Feeling wronged
- Unexpressed grief
- A desire for something different—but feeling like we can’t have it
And for many women over 50, this shows up as resentment toward friends, partners, even adult children… when they don’t follow the “rules” we were raised with. Rules like:
- Don’t speak too loudly.
- Don’t take up too much space.
- Don’t make others uncomfortable.
- Don’t change too much.
So when someone else dares to change… it can feel like a betrayal.
But What If…
What if that uncomfortable feeling isn’t about them?
What if it’s about a version of you that’s been quietly asking to be set free?
What if the resentment is pointing you to your next chapter?
What if it’s not that they’re “too much”… but that you’re finally ready for more?
Growth Through the Lens of Resentment
Here’s your invitation this week:
- Catch the flare of resentment without judgment.
- Pause and ask: What in me is being stirred?
- Journal: What am I ready to give myself permission to do, be, or feel?
Let resentment become your compass—not your cage.
Closing Thought:
You don’t need anyone else to shrink so you can feel safe.
You don’t need them to live differently for you to grow.
This is your time to release the inherited expectations…
And take one B.O.L.D. step toward the life that’s calling you now.
And if you’re ready to explore what that looks like, I’d love to hear what this stirred up for you.
