I am borrowing this from a Facebook posting I saw from Science is Madness. It resonated SO much for me and how we all proceed into adulthood leaving behind (or often times carrying with us) a string of abusive, narcissistic and/or toxic relationships. The effects of these relationships create varied and deep emotional responses and behavioral patterns in all of us. God knows I’ve got my share of baggage…..

But here we are adults, able to make our own decisions….maintain the relationships WE decide to put energy into…and most of all we can leave if we want, fail if we need to and love and be loved without forsaking those boundaries we never learned to draw.

So here it is a different way of looking at our pasts…..

From Science is madness….

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!