Resentment Ice Melting
Materials Needed:
To Support Feeling:
Resentful
How to Do It
Fill a small container with water and freeze it. Once frozen, take it out of the freezer and hold it in your hands, imagining that the ice represents your resentment—cold, hard, and unyielding. As the ice begins to melt, focus on the sensation of the water warming in your hands, symbolizing the softening and release of your resentment. Allow the water to drip away, taking the negative emotions with it.
Why It Works
The slow melting of ice is a powerful metaphor for the gradual release of resentment. This exercise engages your sense of touch and temperature, making the experience of letting go more tangible and embodied.
Guided Practice
Holding a piece of ice in your hand, take a deep breath and feel its coldness pressing against your skin notice the sharp chill of the ice, its solidity, and how it slowly begins to melt from the warmth of your hand. Imagine this ice represents feelings of resentment or anger that you wish to dissolve. Feel the contrast between the hard, solid ice and the softening water that starts to drip down your fingers. As the ice continues to melt, stay with the sensations in your hand and throughout your body. Notice the numbness spreading from the cold, the way your skin tightens and then releases as the ice slowly melts away. Invite yourself to become aware of where these feelings of resentment are familiar in other parts of your life—perhaps in certain relationships, at work, or even in self-talk. Allow images, memories, or patterns related to these feelings to naturally come to mind. Allow any beliefs or meanings associated with these feelings to arise gently. Feel the difference between holding onto resentment, which can feel heavy or cold, and the gradual release as the ice melts—one might feel restrictive, while the other opens up space. Notice any shifts in your body as the ice diminishes—how it changes shape, loses its rigidity, and becomes fluid. Allow yourself to release as the ice transforms and lets go of its grip. When the ice has fully melted, take a moment to observe the water in your hand. Notice the sensations left behind, whether it's a lingering chill or a sense of warmth returning to your skin. Stay with whatever emerges, allowing yourself to be present with the experience. When you’re ready, gently bring your awareness back to your surroundings, noticing your breath and the ground beneath you.