We know that stress is taxing on all parts of the body (including the heart), but could feelings of anger and resent also be bad for your health?
Just like any other low vibration energy, resentment can build up on an energetic level, and can eventually lead to physical dis-ease in the body.
How this might be showing up for you:
Blaming others
Playing the victim
Reliving the events
Essentially, holding onto resentment can keep you from fully being present and enjoying life. When you constantly relive the experience(s) that you feel angry or bitter about, you inadvertently draw more of those kinds of experiences into your awareness. This can snowball and cause deeper emotional damage.
How does this affect you on an interpersonal level?
Relationships will absolutely suffer is these feelings are not addressed, and can even affect new relationships by damaging ability to trust, or give and receive love.
How does this show up in the body?
Some research has shown that these feelings may interfere with the body's hormonal system, affecting the body in the same way that stress does which in turn disrupts the immune system and cardiovascular system.
As a mom, I've been guilty of holding onto resentments around giving up my time and energy to my family instead of my work (which I love) and self-care, having to carry the load of housework, always taking time off when the kids are sick, etc.
That feeling of everything on my shoulders created blame on my husband and my kids, which of course I proceed to feel super guilty about. This placed so much extra tension within my home and my life, I couldn't ignore or make excuses to put it off anymore.
Among many other tools (like reiki and IET) I relied a lot on compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness. I talk about each of these in the Nurture Your Heart online class, but I want to share this wonderful one with you right now...
Ho’oponopono
This ancient Hawaiian practice of forgiveness functions as both a communication concept for reconciliation, and a tool for restoring self-love and balance.
In practice, it works like a mantra for self-love.
The word ho’oponopono roughly translates to “cause things to move back in balance” or to “make things right.” In native Hawaiian language, “pono” means balance, in the sense of “life.”
Accordingly, chanting this prayer over and over is a powerful way to cleanse the body of guilt, shame, haunting memories, ill will, or bad feelings that keep the mind fixated on negative thoughts.
As a forgiveness practice, it is also deeply resonant, as it tends to penetrate our inner monologue over time. Repeat the following:
“I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you, I love you.”
The Nurturing Your Heart online class emphasizes the release of these emotions while bringing in forgiveness for mental, physical and emotional well-being. Click the button for details: