Pay attention to other things!
It is now a good time to think about shedding everything that doesn’t serve you, from not-so-great habits to toxic friends, since the New Year is now approaching. If you’re holding on to a long-held grudge or animosity towards others, it’s time to take inventory of your negative thoughts.
Keeping your mind focused on the good in life is better for your health. However, it’s most definitely impossible to have positive thoughts and reactions toward everybody and every situation all the time.
Below are five ways to let go of a grudge before the new year hits if you are still clutching tight to resentment towards someone (or a few people):
- Stop the snap judgments
Can you pinpoint grudges to a specific incident when you think about them? Did you fall out with that individual you’re feeling animosity towards? If that’s not the case, then snap judgment is to blame. The grudges we have sometimes result from snap judgments we make. Be sure to give people the benefit of the doubt in order to avoid these kinds of grudges in the near future. Their comments and actions are not necessarily directed to you; therefore, do not them personally. Approach individuals open-mindedly. You’ll soon find yourself steeped in negativity if you label people or count them out as friends based on quick assessments.
- Process it by asking yourself questions
Take time to think about why you’re still angry, hurt, or whatever emotion you’re feeling if you’re holding a grudge because of a certain situation that still impacts you. What’s the reason why the incident still affects you? What do you need to do to get over it? And how does it affect your daily life? There’s a difference between being permanently changed by someone else’s actions and being slighted or wronged.
- Talk it out
This is one of the best ways to let go of a grudge. Just approach the person you are not on good terms with and tell them how you feel. Listen to their explanations too. Once they realize how their words or deeds have impacted you, they may apologize. It’s good to talk things out with a trusted friend first if the grudge you have is based on a snap judgment. Get to understand why you feel the way you do. You’ll feel more at peace if you get your emotions out.
- Know the consequences of a grudge
Know the impact of the grudge you’re holding. Those resentments will only hurt you in the long run. You are just the one who is swimming in negativity and whose mind is consumed. Holding grudges only misuse your emotional energy and valuable time. Letting it go, however, will free up mental and emotional space for more positive thoughts.
- Practice letting go
Your feelings of resentment won’t disappear immediately, even if it is based on the fact that you’re going to let go of a grudge. You need to replace your negative thoughts with more self-serving ones by releasing your emotions and channeling positivity. When you start going down the rabbit hole of resentment, you need to recite a mantra that you should have created by then. Start focusing on new things in life; before you know it, grudges will have gone, although it will take quite a while.