By Ed Trainor
Anger and resentment are harmful to the body and mind. They are also harmful to relationships and, if acted on, can cause more problems.
One incredibly effective tool that can genuinely transform your approach to dealing with anger and resentment is the practice of letter writing:
(1) Think of a person, past or present, living or dead, whom you feel some anger or resentment towards.
(2) Using pen and paper, write that person a letter detailing the actions that upset you.
(3) Do NOT send this letter to anyone.’
(4) DESTROY IT! This is not just a suggestion; it’s a crucial step. In a recent study in Japan using this procedure, those who hung on to their paper remained upset, while those who let it go showed almost complete catharsis. This act of destruction is your power to let go and move on.
(5) If it is the time of the Full Moon, you can take your letter outside and burn it. (Don’t burn the house down.)
This process is deeply rooted in the ancient Japanese tradition of hakidashisara, a practice in which angry feelings are written down, sealed in a small vessel, and then destroyed. The intent is to ‘restore the original purity of the heart.’Â The less anger in our hearts and minds, the more space there is for peace, joy, and happiness.
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Choose happiness,
Ed Trainor
