Literal soap removes grease and bacteria. Metaphorical soap should be used daily to wash away bad feelings. That resentment we keep like a dirty rag in the pocket of our heart. That envy that makes us see the achievements of others as a personal affront. That pride that prevents us from asking for forgiveness. That anger we let fester until everything we touch smells of bitterness.
Washing a dish with dried grease is hard work; you scrub, you lather, you scrub. Likewise, emotional cleansing requires awareness and effort. It's not enough to simply wish to be a better person; you have to cleanse your thoughts with small actions: acknowledge your mistakes, apologize without excuses, let go of the need to always be right, and look at others without prejudice. The warm water of empathy and the neutral soap of humility work wonders.
Good human relationships deteriorate when we accumulate resentment like dirt under our fingernails. A word spoken out of place, a misunderstanding never cleared up, a wound we pretend doesn't hurt… All of that festers and ends up infecting our relationships. That's why I insist: use the soap. Wash your hands before pointing the finger at someone. Wash your tongue before uttering a hurtful comment. Wash your heart before closing the door on someone who unintentionally offended you.
Personal hygiene protects your body. Emotional hygiene protects your peace and your relationships. Don't let invisible grime rule your life. Lather your intentions, clear your vision, rinse away the past when it's no longer good for anything but making foam. In the end, a person who is clean inside and out doesn't smell of resentment, but of respect. And that aroma, my dear friend, isn't given by any expensive perfume: it's given by soap used well.
Credit: I used Google Translate.