Hanging Onto Resentments

Have you ever heard this quote? I hadn't until last week and boy, did I need to hear it! Even though I teach yoga, I don't always have yoga like reactions to things and people. I try, but sometimes that certain person will rub me the wrong way. After a full weekend of berating myself and saying, "Why am I still letting this get to me," I heard this quote and it made me think. So I did some research.

When we allow people or circumstances to get into our heads, we are giving away our power. The funny thing is, that person probably isn't thinking about you at all. So why are you wasting your time letting someone live rent free in your head? They are living rent free and you are living in the prison of your own mind.

People make their way into our heads when we focus on those negative and stressful events surrounding them. We replay it over and over again and wonder how the outcome could have been different. When we continue to think about a person, place, or thing, we hardwire that info into our brains and it becomes a brain habit. We have literally framed our brains to think of that content. It becomes a well worn path and our brain defaults to that content.

So what can we do? Start by labeling that unwanted guest for what they are, not a threat you have to fight against, but an unwelcome and unhelpful presence to be mostly ignored. The more we train ourselves to stop arguing with them and disengage, the less distracting they become. Instead, occupy your headspace with happy memories, scenes from nature, and things you want to accomplish. Keep those thoughts in your back pocket.

In conclusion "Don't let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out."

-Namaste