Anger, Forgiveness, and the Power of Letting Go

Someone once said, “Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
It’s a powerful image — and one that speaks to how many of us live our lives.

Anger itself isn’t “bad.” It’s a natural human emotion. In fact, it can even be useful. If someone cuts you off in traffic, or if a boundary has been crossed, anger alerts you that something’s wrong. But the real danger comes when we hold on to it.

When anger lingers for days, weeks, or even years, it doesn’t punish the other person. It punishes us.

How Anger Affects Us

• Physically: Anger raises blood pressure, disrupts sleep, affects digestion, and weakens the immune system. Over time, it can contribute to serious health issues like heart disease and anxiety disorders.

• Emotionally: It clouds judgment, fuels regret, and creates a constant sense of heaviness.

• Relationally: Angry words said in the moment can damage trust and relationships for far longer than the outburst itself.

The truth is, your body keeps the score. Anger doesn’t just live in your head — it shows up in your chest, your gut, your heart, and your spirit.

The Cure: Forgiveness

Forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay. It doesn’t excuse the action or let someone off the hook.

Forgiveness simply means: “I will not let this control me anymore.”

You can forgive the person, but not always the action. The only one who can forgive the action is them. But by forgiving, you free yourself. Forgiveness lowers stress, improves sleep, strengthens relationships, and brings peace back into your life.

A Simple Beach Meditation

Here’s a practice you can try right now to release anger and find forgiveness:

1. Close your eyes and picture yourself standing on a beach — maybe Hopeman, here in Moray. The tide is out, the sun is shining, and you’ve got a stick in your hand.

2. Draw a big circle in the sand. Inside that circle, imagine placing all the people, places, and situations that have made you angry. Add misunderstandings, regrets, or even harsh words you’ve said to yourself. Mark each one with a simple X or symbol.

3. Step back and watch the tide rolling in. Wave by wave, the water sweeps over your circle. The marks fade, the circle vanishes, and the sand becomes smooth and clear again.

4. Breathe deeply. Notice how much lighter and freer you feel.

This is forgiveness in action. The events may still have happened, but they no longer weigh you down.

Final Thought

Carrying anger is like carrying a hot coal, hoping to throw it at someone else. But the one who gets burned first… is always you.

Forgiveness is how we finally put that coal down.

So next time anger rises, pause, breathe, and remember the beach. Let the tide do its work, and give yourself permission to feel lighter.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If anger, stress, or past hurts are holding you back, I can help. Through coaching, healing, and intuitive guidance, I work with clients to release what no longer serves them and step into a lighter, freer life.

Book a private session with me today:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more insights, meditations, and spiritual guidance: @ahappymediumderek

Together, we can turn anger into peace, and forgiveness into freedom.