January 30, 2015 >>> October 7, 2021
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.” – Gautama Buddha
Six years ago, when I originally posted this quote as daily inspiration, I didn’t include my own commentary because I didn’t think it was necessary. Gautama Buddha’s quote resonated with me enough that I felt it could stand alone and needed no clarification. Well, times have changed and the grudges and resentment I lug around have built up. Lately this quote has been a source of meditation for me. Blame it on Mercury Retrograde or the weather, but as of late I have not felt much like putting anything out there, let alone sharing my thoughts with a world of strangers knowing there are very few people “listening” to these words. Over the past week, I have been challenged, by a variety of mishaps and interactions to process feelings of anger and transform that energy into something higher. The most difficult action for me is letting go of the anger, resentment or grudge I have developed and essentially made a part of my composition.
The problem with all of this–creating & holding grudges, holding anger and resentment is that it really does harm only you. Regardless of how you process or express that anger, you are essentially harmed the most, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. How many times have we created a grudge, held on to it and then years later can’t even remember exactly why we despise someone? Or how often have you lashed out at someone (or something) and when it’s all said and done, you’re the one who walks away with more hurt and less positive energy to move past it. The key to eliminating the prospect of depleting yourself and giving your energy away to anger is to simply get and stay in tune with yourself and keep yourself in check.
Feel those emotions when they introduce themselves and give them an assignment, so to speak. Acknowledge what you are feeling. Think about why you are feeling that way. What works for me is to think about how can I push this energy toward something productive or I ask myself, “what can I do right now that would make me feel better?” It sounds simple and that’s because it really is. Hopefully when you ask yourself that question, in your next instance of anger, the answer is not beat the brakes off of_____________. If it is, I guess do what you gotta do but you will be harming your own growth and progress far more than you will be building a solution.
Choose wisely; because above all else, you have a responsibility to yourself to take care of yourself.
Soul Food 