Is there someone you hate? Well, you don’t really hate them. But you get really angry when you think of them. If you don’t let this anger go, it can turn into bitterness. Bitterness appears when we can’t forgive someone who has hurt us or made us angry. Someone might say or do something that hurts us. But instead of controlling the anger, we keep it deep inside. Before long, a bitter feeling begins to grow. We may think we’re hurting that person by criticizing him or her often, but we’re really only hurting ourselves. Bitterness can not only lead to terrible health problems such as heart disease, but also hurt our friendships with our friends and family members. No one enjoys being around an angry person for very long. If you see bitterness in your life, the following ways can be helpful. Accept it Instead of trying to deny your anger, make it clear to yourself and accept it. See your anger for what it is and quickly deal with it. Stop making excuses for it You may feel you have a right to be angry. You may think you’re right and the other person is wrong. You may even secretly enjoy making the other person look bad. But in the end, bitterness hurts you much more than the other person. The bitterness will hold you back, and the other person will go on with his or her life. Forgive and forget it You probably can’t completely put the anger out of your mind. But you can decide to forgive the other person. Forget it and move on. You’ll enjoy better health and peace of your mind.