Jordan Sterling

So, um, I was cleaning out the garage the other day and I found this old, dusty bag of quick dry concrete mix. It must have been sitting there for, I don't know, three years. I go to lift it, and, uh, the bag rips. So I end up having to carry this, this massive, awkward, forty pound block of hardened stone across the yard. My back was sore for three days, Ava. Just, just brutal.

Ava Brooks

Why didn't you just get a wheelbarrow or, or, like, ask for help? Why carry the whole dead weight yourself?

Jordan Sterling

Because I was being stubborn! That is the, the honest truth. I was determined to do it in one go. But it got me thinking about how we can do the exact same thing with our emotions. Like, carrying these hidden, heavy, rock hard grudges around, week after week, year after year, and not even realizing the physical toll it is taking.

Ava Brooks

Oh, absolutely. It can be exhausting. And it is not just, you know, a metaphor. The science on this is actually pretty wild. When you hold onto a grievance, your brain does not realize it is in the past. It treats that unresolved conflict as an active, ongoing threat. So your body stays locked in this chronic, energy draining state of, of fight or flight.

Jordan Sterling

Wait, so your brain thinks the, the person who cut you off in traffic three years ago is, like, still chasing you?

Ava Brooks

Yes! Exactly! It is keeping your heart rate up, your muscles tense, and your cortisol spiking. You are essentially paying a heavy physical tax for something that is already over. And there are actual empirical studies on this, Jordan. Empirical studies have shown that forgiveness decreases anger, anxiety, and depression, and it directly increases self esteem and hopefulness for the future. So, when you choose not to forgive, you are basically choosing to stay in that low self esteem, high anxiety loop.

Jordan Sterling

That is crazy. We think we are keeping a ledger to, to protect ourselves, right? Like, if I hold onto this grudge, I am holding them accountable. But they are probably out eating tacos, not even thinking about us, while we are sitting here with a knot in our stomach.

Ava Brooks

Exactly! It is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick. I actually caught myself doing this recently with, um, with a friend of mine. We had this, this minor misunderstanding over a text message. Nothing major, just a silly tone issue. But I started keeping this, this silent, mental tally of every little thing she did after that. Like, oh, she took six hours to reply to my meme, so she must be mad.

Jordan Sterling

Oh, the text message ledger. That is a dangerous game.

Ava Brooks

It is! It was so exhausting! I realized I was bringing this weird, cold energy to our conversations for absolutely no reason. Finally, I just, I just stopped. I decided to throw the mental ledger away. And the second I did, Jordan, the immediate sense of lightness was incredible. It was like putting down that forty pound block of concrete you were carrying.

Jordan Sterling

That is so powerful, Ava. It reminds me so much of the PTT Music track "Stronger Than Before." You know, that song we released. It has this driving, relentless rhythm that feels like you are finally breaking free from the weight. True strength is not about carrying the heaviest burden and surviving it. It is about having the courage to release the old baggage so you can actually move forward cleanly.

Ava Brooks

Yes, exactly. Moving forward cleanly. But, okay, how do we actually do that? Because, let's be real, telling someone to just forgive and let go is, is a lot easier said than done. How do we break that rumination loop?

Jordan Sterling

Well, it starts with a cognitive shift. We have to reframe the narrative. Usually, when someone is harboring resentment, they turn the other person into this cartoon villain in their head. They did this on purpose, they wanted to hurt me, they are pure evil. But the reality is almost always that they are just, well, a human being who made a mistake, or was having a tough day, or just lacked the tools to do better.

Ava Brooks

Right. Separating their identity from their specific hurtful action. It does not mean what they did was okay, but it stops them from occupying all that free rent in your mind.

Jordan Sterling

Exactly. So, to make this practical for everyone listening, let's break this down into three action steps you can start using today. Ava, do you want to share the first one?

Ava Brooks

Yes! Step number one is what we call the Ledger Audit. It is a physical exercise. Grab a piece of paper and actually write down a specific grievance you may be holding onto. Write out exactly what happened and why it hurt. Then, right next to it, write the words, balanced and closed. After that, physically rip up the paper or throw it away. It sounds simple, but that physical act of closing the tab tells your brain that the debt is settled and you can stop carrying it.

Jordan Sterling

I love that. Step two is the Humanizing Pivot. When you find yourself spinning in circles about how someone wronged you, actively practice reframing them. Say to yourself, they are a human experiencing their own struggles, and they made a poor choice. This simple pivot helps separate their identity from their mistake, which takes away the power of that cartoon villain narrative.

Ava Brooks

And finally, step three is the Sonic Reset. Use our song, "Stronger Than Before," as an auditory anchor. When you feel that tension rising, or you catch yourself opening that mental ledger, put on the track. Let the energy of the music signal to your nervous system that you are safe, you are strong, and it is time to transition from resentment into true empowerment.

Jordan Sterling

Again, thanks for spending this time with us on the PTT Music Podcast. We hope today's conversation left you inspired, encouraged, and ready to carry that energy with you wherever life takes you. I'm Jordan Sterling...

Ava Brooks

And I'm Ava Brooks. We'll see you next time for another conversation that celebrates creativity, purpose, and the power of music.

Jordan Sterling

If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to continue the journey with us. Visit PTTMusic.com to explore our latest music, official videos, exclusive merchandise, artist updates, and much more. You can also stream PTT Music on your favorite music platforms. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little inspiration today... Until next time, keep moving forward.

Ava Brooks

And let the PTT Music continue to move you closer to who you truly are.