“We have the right to be angry,” Pat Benatar sings in her song “Invincible.” Boy, is that something most of us claim or what? And then, we often insist that we have a right to stay angry. Of course, we pay a price for it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should never experience anger; it is a natural human emotion. I’m not a proponent of passively turning a blind eye to injustice. But, anger is a call to action, not a jewel to be held and cherished, as many do with it. Ahem, as I sometimes do with it (shocking, huh?)
When we justify hanging on to anger, we’re confining ourselves in a prison cell. We hold the key to walk out, but because we’re blinded by the righteousness of our position we may never see that fact.
And, we’re welcome to do so, but what a price we pay. As the old saying goes, “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” Holding onto the anger may lead to various crimes towards others. But even if the harm you do is only towards yourself, it may still be a crime.
I heard about a study that showed that certain chemicals are released when we’re angry. It was stated that the toxicity level was so high in a person who was angry that their breath could kill a small animal. I don’t recall if it was a hamster or a gerbil, but you get the point. So, what does that do to your insides? But it goes way beyond that.
The Law of Attraction is at work in our lives. We bring into our lives those things that are in vibrational harmony with our thoughts and feelings.
What kind of energy does anger have?
Imagine the kind of things you create when you’re carrying anger. Imagine how everything Midas touched to gold, what would the things you touch turn into? All right, so maybe you are on-board with this idea that holding onto anger, justified or not, is not a great plan. So, what do we do about it?
If we let it go, won’t people think we’re nuts?
I refer you again to the case made against anger above. What is more nuts, letting it go or hanging onto it? If other people think it’s nuts to let it go, let them know that they’re welcome to hang onto the anger, and its toxicity, for you. You don’t owe it to anyone to harm yourself to protect their limited understanding of life. Imagine standing in a pool of toxic waste because someone else says you should—and that you have a right to do so!
As far as letting it go, I recommend tapping. The anger is in the energy system, and that is where it needs to be released. And I do mean letting it go in terms of releasing. This is getting through it, not getting over it. Don’t stuff it, don’t pretend it’s not there. Deal with it, clear it and move towards forgiveness.
Say WHAT? Do you know what this person did to me?
Yes, I am going to challenge you to do the perhaps seemingly impossible. But, I believe in miracles, and I’ve seen more miracles happen through the power of forgiveness than anything else.
Forgiveness is not saying that what someone has done is OK. It does not mean approval. Don’t look at it as a gift you give the other person, but one you give yourself. Forgiveness is a release. It says, “I refuse to hold this harm in my energy any longer.”
Again, anger is a call to action. Take the necessary action to right a wrong, or ensure that the wrong will not be repeated, and move on, focusing on what you do want in your life, rather than what you don’t want.
It can be done. Perhaps you’ve heard the story of Linda and Peter Biehl, who forgave the men who killed their daughter Amy in South Africa in 1993. Amazing. No one could blame them if they stayed in anger. But they chose differently.
I pray neither you nor I ever have to face such a challenge. And perhaps someone has hurt you worse than that—done something more “unforgivable.” If so, I wish you a miracle that you may find peace. Whatever anger and resentment you may be hanging onto, I hope you will choose to stop paying the price.
Set yourself free.
[su_panel background=”#f2f2f2″ color=”#000000″ border=”0px none #ffffff” shadow=”0px 0px 0px #ffffff”]Brad Yates is a teacher of Emotional Freedom Techniques® (EFT), an effective method for overcoming fear and relieving stress. Need a good laugh? Brad is a graduate of Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Clown College who has performed around the world. He is the author of the children’s book The Wizard’s Wish, co-author of Freedom at Your Fingertips, and appears in the film The Tapping Solution as a featured expert. To learn more about Brad Yates and the work that he is doing with EFT, go to http://www.bradyates.net.
