Mindful Rewrites - Holding On To Anger Is Like Drinking Drano And Expecting Someone Else To Die

“Forgiving isn't something you do for someone else. It's something you do for yourself. It's saying, 'You're not important enough to have a stranglehold on me.' It's saying, 'You don't get to trap me in the past. I am worthy of a future.'” 
― Jodi Picoult, The Storyteller

Mindful Rewrite

A mindful practice of noticing our thoughts increases awareness of how we react based upon past hurts and resentments. Our unconscious mind stores maladaptive experiences and our brain tries to protect us by thinking attack thoughts toward ourselves or others. 

Hysterical is historical.

When our reaction is much stronger than the infraction, it comes from past conditioning. For example, if you are sitting in a staff meeting and cannot stop thinking attack thoughts toward a co-worker who you hardly know, it is helpful to step back and remind yourself that this is NOW. You can begin to examine why your reaction was so strong. Often it is because you were reminded of a maladaptive pattern or person from your past. When you bring the thoughts into consciousness, you have a choice of what to think. You can decide to stop the attack thoughts that are generating adrenalin and cortisol hormones and making you tense.

“Forgiving isn't something you do for someone else. It's something you do for yourself.”

Practice

When you feel tense and notice attack thoughts, drop your attention into your body and scan for how you are holding your muscles. You can imagine that it is as if the muscles are knots and you are loosening the knots…letting go of stress.

Shift your awareness to the attack thoughts and focus on this loving kindness meditation:

May I be healed

May I be at peace

May I be filled with loving kindness.