Letting Go and Starting Over

By Noelle Nigrelli

With the Holidays right around the corner it is easy to come home and open old wounds from the past or highschool. Seeing old friends or being reminded of old situations can allow old grudges and anger to rise up. Today I want to talk about the importance of letting go and starting over and the beauty of turning anger into light and positivity. 

Anger can have many negative impacts on your body and mental health. Anger is linked to several health issues such as increased stroke, heart risk, and a weaker immune system. Holding onto anger is also linked to an increase in anxiety, and depression. When you're in a negative headspace and are holding on to old grudges you are harming your own health and well being. Sometimes the best way to let go of a hurtful situation is to move on and start over. 

If you feel you are struggling to let go and move on, I have a few tips that can help. The first is to take deep breaths and reflect on the situation. Sometimes you need to talk yourself down in order to let things go. Another step that can help is by moving your body whether that is by yoga or other meditation and calming exercises. Finally, my favorite is to defuse anger with humor. Being able to laugh about past situations can help you realize how much you have grown and how far you have come. Laughter can help you keep a balanced perspective when you're trying to handle your feelings. 

No matter what feelings you endure as you travel home remember the impacts of anger on your body and the rewards of turning anger into light. Just by moving on, letting go, and forgiving yourself, you open yourself to healthier relationships, less anxiety and depression, and a stronger immune system. The more anger you are able to let go of, the more time you will have to focus on yourself and the holiday season!