Ok, so I'm going to start this post with the logic.
One: there are certain situations in which you should stand up for yourself and for others. Don't let this advice/message/post/whatever-it's-called keep you from this when appropriate and/or needed.
Two: please do not go around punching and/or kicking other people/objects not meant to be punched and/or kicked. ;) (and I'm only saying this because I relieve stress this way, but I, too, need to maintain self-control)
Down to business. The truth is, life is going to throw things at you that will make you cry, make you frustrated, make you want to punch or kick something, make you stressed. And unfortunately, we have to deal with them. This fact of life does not mean that, in any way, we should ball the stress and frustration and sadness up inside of us and keep it there. All it will do is fester and grow into a burden that becomes unbearable to carry and eventually we feel like we're so trapped that there is no way of taking this enormous load off our shoulders and chest. Ranting and venting to people does help; it allows us to get things off our chest and out in the open so we are no longer keeping this force inside. Sometimes, doing this via email or text message can be more helpful if we think that saying what is on our mind aloud will make it seem to real to handle and out of our control.
In a previous post, I wrote "We all have our days, we all have our victories, and we all have our defeats. But victories and defeats aren't life, they are moments. We are life, and life is more than who we are." This is something to keep in mind on our bad days. Yes, those days. I get them too. But we need to remember that's meant to happen will happen. What defines us is not what cards we are dealt, but how we play them.
There was a technique I recommended to a friend to relieve some stress, and they reported back that it was quite effective. Yes, it includes kicking and punching, so I thought I'd share it with you:
Find a quiet (and preferably soundproof) room/spot. Then find a punching bag (like a martial arts one), a few pillows, a giant pad, or something big to punch and kick comfortably with a large amount of force. (If you are willing to do this in front of a friend, and a friend is willing to help you, he or she might hold one of those giant target pads martial artists use for kicking drills. Just be careful.) Start beating on the pad (generic name for all of these options) gently and slowly, gradually increasing your power and speed. Start out by quietly saying the things burdening your mind as you do this, then simultaneously increase power and speed and the volume of your voice, until you are completely letting out your anger and sadness and frustration and shouting everything that is on your mind, everything negative affecting your life. When you can do this no more, sit down, collapse to the floor if you need to, and let the negativity and burdens lift off of you. Just sit, and relax, and feel FREE for a few minutes, or however long you need.
I've been told this works, and have recommended it to multiple people. Just realize that releasing anger and burden in any way, shape, or form, does not mean we do not accept life; rather, it means we are dealing with it in a way that is helpful and beneficial to us. Don't be shy about releasing anger, because we all have it, whether we show it or not. Something is always nagging at us. Life is never completely worry and burden free. But don't let these negative things keep you from being the happy person who enjoys life that you want to be. Don't lose sight of joy. Don't lose touch with the world and people you love. Don't lose touch with yourself. Always make time for yourself, for your emotions, for your feelings, for all of the things you love and care about. You are supported, and you are loved.
And thank you Bruce Lee for affirming the truth of the need to release stress, while still accepting the gift of life as it is given to us.
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