--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we harbor negative emotions toward…" description: "\"When we harbor negative emotions toward others or toward ourselves, or when we intentionally create pain for others, we poison our own physical and spi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/caroline-myss-1439_capacity_when-we-harbor-negative-emotions-toward_1503654.png" --- # When we harbor negative emotions toward others or toward… ![“When we harbor negative emotions toward others or toward ourselves, or when we intentionally create pain for others, we poison our own physical and spiritual systems. By far the strongest poison to the human spirit is the inability to forgive oneself or another person. It disables a person's…” quote by Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/caroline-myss-1439_capacity_when-we-harbor-negative-emotions-toward_1503654.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/caroline-myss-1439_capacity_when-we-harbor-negative-emotions-toward_1503654.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/caroline-myss-1439_capacity_when-we-harbor-negative-emotions-toward_1503654.png) > “When we harbor negative emotions toward others or toward ourselves, or when we intentionally create pain for others, we poison our own physical and spiritual systems. By far the strongest poison to the human spirit is the inability to forgive oneself or another person. It disables a person's emotional resources. The challenge...is to refine our capacity to love others as well as ourselves and to develop the power of forgiveness.” [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding onto resentment harms both body and soul; forgiveness restores health and emotional capacity. **In simple terms:** Resentment poisons; forgiveness heals. Key Takeaway Practice forgiveness to protect wellbeing. Themes healing forgiveness emotional health spirituality self‑compassion Mood empathetic hopeful serene Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - therapy sessions - conflict mediation - stress management Key Concepts psychology of trauma spiritual detox self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What grudges are you holding? - How can you start forgiving today? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be difficult without genuine remorse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capacity to love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-to-love/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-spirit/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Love others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-others/) [Negative emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-emotions/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Power of forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-forgiveness/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [By far the strongest poison to the human spirit is the inability to forgive oneself or another person. Forgiveness is no longer an option…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/by-far-the-strongest-poison-to-the-human-spirit-is-the-inability-to/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/anxiety-is-the-poison-of-human-life-the-parent-of-many-sins-and-of/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The strongest poison ever known came from Caesar's laurel crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-strongest-poison-ever-known-came-from-caesar-s-laurel-crown/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Pain is a poison, pleasure an intoxicant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/pain-is-a-poison-pleasure-an-intoxicant/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [“Pain is poison to the body. Worry is toxic to the mind. Yearning is venom to the heart. Lust is poison to the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/pain-is-poison-to-the-body-worry-is-toxic-to-the-mind-yearning-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“But remember, pain must be woven together with threads of love and patience. Don't ever let pain poison you. A beautiful carpet is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-maufroy/but-remember-pain-must-be-woven-together-with-threads-of-love-and/) [Muriel Maufroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-maufroy/) > [Healing is a different type of pain. It’s the pain of becoming aware of the power of one’s strength and weakness, of one’s capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/healing-is-a-different-type-of-pain-it-s-the-pain-of-becoming-aware/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [I still believe in the power of forgiveness. I believe in the power of redemption. Today I manned up and tried to accept responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson-jr/i-still-believe-in-the-power-of-forgiveness-i-believe-in-the-power-of/) [Jesse Jackson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson-jr/) > [Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/forgiving-does-not-erase-the-bitter-past-a-healed-memory-is-not-a-2/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [“Shame without repentance doesn’t lose power when it is spoken, it only seeks approval.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/shame-without-repentance-doesn-t-lose-power-when-it-is-spoken-it-only/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Life is too short to carry the burden of a heavy heart. It does not serve you or anyone else. Free yourself through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/life-is-too-short-to-carry-the-burden-of-a-heavy-heart-it-does-not/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [The weak can never forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-weak-can-never-forgive/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [There is some good in the worst of us, and some evil in the best of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-is-some-good-in-the-worst-of-us-and-some-evil-in-the-best-of-us/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [What we forgive too freely doesn't stay forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/what-we-forgive-too-freely-doesn-t-stay-forgiven/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Not to forgive is to be imprisoned by the past, by old grievances that do not permit life to proceed with new business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-morrow/not-to-forgive-is-to-be-imprisoned-by-the-past-by-old-grievances-that-2/) [Lance Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-morrow/) ## More by Caroline Myss > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [“Manipulating or controlling others through the use of one's illness or suffering,for example,was-and remains-extremely effective for people who find they cannot be direct in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/manipulating-or-controlling-others-through-the-use-of-one-s-illness/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Being of service is not an option, it is a biological necessity. Every kind of action we do for someone is a reanimation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/being-of-service-is-not-an-option-it-is-a-biological-necessity-every/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [In general, if a couple cannot expand their original rules and boundaries to accommodate personal growth, the relationship disintegrates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/in-general-if-a-couple-cannot-expand-their-original-rules-and/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [If you have life, you have purpose. It can't be otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/if-you-have-life-you-have-purpose-it-can-t-be-otherwise/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Intuitive guidance means having the self-esteem to recognize that the discomfort or confusion that a person feels is actually directing him to take charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/intuitive-guidance-means-having-the-self-esteem-to-recognize-that-the/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [If you don't appreciate what you have in life right now, whatever it is, you will never realize your purpose. Without appreciation, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/if-you-don-t-appreciate-what-you-have-in-life-right-now-whatever-it/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Becoming adept at the process of self inquiry and symbolic insight is a vital spiritual task that leads to the growth of faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/becoming-adept-at-the-process-of-self-inquiry-and-symbolic-insight-is/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [One atom is as purposeful as our planet. What is in one is in the whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/one-atom-is-as-purposeful-as-our-planet-what-is-in-one-is-in-the-whole/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [We #fear our intuitions because we fear the transformational power within our revelations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/we-fear-our-intuitions-because-we-fear-the-transformational-power/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [It is your birthright to discover your sacred contract. It will guide you to find your divine destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/it-is-your-birthright-to-discover-your-sacred-contract-it-will-guide/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [We have converted our wounds into a type of relationship currency that we use in order to control situations and people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/we-have-converted-our-wounds-into-a-type-of-relationship-currency/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [The love that flows through your heart purifies not only your own spirit, but the love you share with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/the-love-that-flows-through-your-heart-purifies-not-only-your-own/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Your body is your own planet Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-body-is-your-own-planet-earth/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Whenever you become empowered, you will be tested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/whenever-you-become-empowered-you-will-be-tested/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) [Explore all 241 Caroline Myss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) ## More Capacity quotes > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. 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Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I was only operating at about 80% of my capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-was-only-operating-at-about-80-of-my-capacity/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. 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High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. 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