Welcome to my thought of the week, week 19.
This week’s quote is:
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
Usually my thought’s of the week posts are my own quotes, but this quote from Buddha was one of those that caught me eye. Once it caught my attention, it stayed with me enough that I thought it deserved a place here.
I’ve spoken a lot on here about letting go of grudges, and this is along the same lines:
Holding onto anger harms no one except yourself.
You are the one experiencing the emotional turmoil, the sleepless nights, the constant tightening of your throat and ultimately, it is your health that will suffer.
It’s not always easy to let go of negative emotions, but by remembering that you are the one to get hurt, you are taking that all important first step.
I think this quote sums up that idea beautifully, and makes it all the more obvious that holding onto negativity is not only harmful to you, but when put into that context, it makes you realise how silly it is.
I mean no one would drink poison and expect someone else to die right? So why would you think that by holding onto to negativity, you can somehow damage the person it is aimed at?
If the person you feel the anger towards is someone you want in your life, talk to them. Tell them how you feel. Work with them to reach a solution, even if it’s just an apology and a validation of your feelings.
If the person is someone you don’t want in your life, then cut them loose. But when you let them, let go of all that negativity too.
What’s your favourite quote this week? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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Here’s a confession. I’ve only wished a long and painful death upon two people in my entire life. I was very disappointed when one of those people passed recently, and I didn’t feel that they had suffered quite enough. Does that make me a bad person?
I usually tend to let things roll off the shoulder and just move on with life. Ultimately, it makes me a happier person.
I’m guessing that whoever that person was, they must have done something really bad to you to make you feel that way so I would say it makes you human to feel that way. I do feel happier when I just let things go, but sometimes, that’s easier said than done.
Enjoyed this – thanks for sharing!
from @HelenHollick
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
This one really resonates with me too – anger and negativity ends up a millstone around our own necks, holding us back from moving on. x #KCACOLS
I totally agree, you will never get closure while your hanging on to negative emotions x
I just saw this quote on Facebook the other day and it’s so true. As I write posts about forgiveness and healing, this is the perfect quote to sum up how I feel about it but it took me a long time to realize this. I was the one suffering and I had to learn to let some things go so that I could be happy and healthy. Great quote to share Debbie! #candidcuddles
It’s not always easy to let go, but I think when you do, you realise how much better you feel for it. Thank you 🙂
I like that quote. I’m definitely one to hold onto anger. I’ve never been into all that forgiveness stuff, some people don’t deserve forgiveness and harboring anger doesn’t weigh me down or hold me back one bit. 😀
I guess if it’s not bothering you then it’s not an issue then. For me, life is too short to waste time feeling anything except indifference to people I no longer want in my life.
This was just what I needed to read today, I’ve seen that quote before but not recently and it’s so appropriate for me right now! I’m feeling so much anger, and yes, the person who is hurting so much because of it is me and only me. My latest post is about letting go of negativity and I need to let go of the anger too. I just wish I knew how!
I would say you have taken the first step towards letting it go by realising it’s only affecting you. It can be easier said than done though can’t it!
This is so important to becoming a happy person, content with your life. Great quote
I totally agree! Thank you 🙂
This quote is absolutely awesome! It is so true! I held onto so much stress for so long and watched the person who hurt me act like normal, it caused me more pain and him none. I had to let go, not for him, but for me and my family xx Thanks for linking #candidcuddles
Thank you 🙂 I’m glad you let go, by not doing so, he would be holding you back to this day! Thanks for hosting x
That is a great quote and so true. All my favorite quotes are about cats 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I love some of the grumpy cat ones!
Great quote… I might need to write this one down on the back of my hand as a reminder. Someone makes me feel really cross and on edge, but deep down I know that if I could let go of the negativity it wouldn’t be half as bad. #candidcuddles
Thank you 🙂 It’s true, letting go of that negativity will make you feel so much better. It’s not always easy to do though
I’m a very forgiving person by nature, but everybody needs to deal with pain in their own way. To tell somebody who’s been incredibly hurt that they need to let go when they aren’t ready . . . I think that can be more harmful than the anger is in the first place. They could feel ashamed and like they’re a bad person and wonder what’s wrong with them when everybody else seems to be able to forgive.
That’s actually a really good point and one I hadn’t considered. I would hate to think that by trying to make someone feel better I actually ended up making them feel worse!
This is such a great way to look at anger & resentment – it’s so true! We just end up upsetting or self. Thanks so much for sharing with #candidcuddles
Thank you 🙂 We do, it just brings us down! Thank you for hosting