Tricia Steinmann

I started writing in this journal 11 years ago. Every once in a while, I’ll flip back through it, and it’s one of the best reminders of how much God has changed me over time.

I came across this entry:
“I have been practicing replacing my negative thoughts about someone with something positive or something I’m grateful for instead. This is not an easy task sometimes, but I do want to release the negative. With practice, I will. Today I’m grateful for the journey I’m on to becoming a better person each day and tapping into a more spiritual existence.”

Reading those words brings me back to that moment. I desperately wanted to move past some things I was holding onto. I can honestly say it’s no longer as hard as it was in the beginning.

Through that process, one of the biggest things God has shown me is that holding onto negative thoughts about someone hurts me far more than it hurts them. Bitterness has a way of taking up space in our hearts. Choosing to see the light in someone - even when it’s really hard - is a gift you give yourself. It brings freedom, peace, and keeps your heart from becoming hardened.