Question

"Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves." In your own words, explain the meaning of this quote and relate it to your own life.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

I've read somewhere that holding on to anger is like holding an ember with your hands to throw it at someone else. You end up burning yourself before you can even hurt the other person. I believe the quote in the question conveys essentially the same meaning. Holding anger serves no good purpose, nor does it bring any benefits.

I have been offended and mistreated several times during my life. Until not long ago, I had chosen to hold on to anger, constantly reminding myself of the offense and, consequently, living resentful. That has obviously - and very predictably - taken its toll on me. It became harder for me to keep my emotions under control. Every time I found myself facing a situation that resembled those previous ones, my brain and body would immediately react, as if an alarm had been activated inside me. I would get angry so fast, I didn't even see it coming. I would end up overreacting, being rude to the other person in a desperate measure to defend myself, my ego, my feelings. It turns out that was not a good tactic. Only recently I chose to learn and understand that forgiving and letting go of anger was the solution. It is not an easy task, and I haven't changed overnight. But I got myself together. Now, I take my time to breath, and then let go. Many of the problems and situations that would normally bother me have no effect on me whatsoever, leaving much room to happiness, calm, and relaxation.

Note: feel free to adapt this according to your own life experiences.