Like Master Yoda says, “Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” When we hold onto feelings of anger, we do more damage to ourselves than the person we feel anger towards. The truth is, anger is a punishment we give ourselves for someone else’s mistake.
Holding onto anger has severe physical and psychological consequences. When we get angry, our bodies respond by feeling stressed. Our heart rate and blood pressure increase, and we release elevated amounts of adrenaline and cortisol, as well as other hormones. While our bodies do adapt to “normal” levels of stress, consistent and accumulated stress can contribute to disease and even death.
Psychologically, prolonged feelings of anger have been linked to loneliness, chronic anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, obsessive-compulsive behavior and phobias. Holding onto anger can cause us to adapt a victim mindset and we can become difficult to be around. You may have experienced these kinds of people. They often see their cup as half full and are vocal about their misery. They will blow misunderstandings and minor grievances out of proportion and are more inclined to end relationships with people rather than work through the issue.
You see, holding onto anger is a buffer we use to protect ourselves from how we are really feeling. Perhaps underneath the anger are feelings of hurt, betrayal or sadness. Addressing the real feelings may make us feel vulnerable and scared, so we stay angry.
When you find yourself holding onto anger, ask yourself what you are really feeling besides the anger? What is at the root of your feelings? Focus on healing yourself because anger will destroy your heart. When the roots of anger run deep, hate flourishes. And holding hate in your heart will erode who you are.
Free yourself from this burden of anger. You deserve to live a happy, victorious life.
