Learn to let go of grudges

Think of something that in the past has made you angry or hurt your feelings. 

Maybe you were passed up for promotion or a team member criticised your work in public.   

Does thinking about the event make your heart beat faster or your breathing become shallow? 

Does it go round and round in an endless circle?  Does it leave a bad taste in your mouth? If so, you’re holding a grudge, which can be bad for your health.

The negative emotions that come with holding on to a grudge are actually a stress response. 

Just thinking about the event sends your body into an intense emotional survival reaction. 

When a threat is real, this reaction is essential to your survival. When a threat is ancient history, holding on to that stress wreaks havoc on your body and can have devastating health consequences over time. 

Holding on to a grudge means you’re holding on to stress, and researchers at Emory University have shown that holding on to stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease. Learning to let go of a grudge will not only make you feel better now but can also improve your health over time. 

There are six steps to letting go. Read them here. 

*For more information about how Mariane can help your organisation, please click here.

*Mariane Vorster is a life and business coach. Her passion and focus is on providing strategic leadership development, concentrating on the transfer of skills and knowledge. Click here to get in touch with Mariane.