# Jaws of Lead

By [jer979](https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2) · 2025-06-05

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Recently, I spent some time with someone who holds on to a lot of anger and frustration.

Those emotions, it seems to me, occur when there is a disconnect between how the world is and how we might like the world to be.

That is not to say we shouldn’t do anything about a given situation, but in order to constructively do something about it, we first need to accept it.

I started to imagine the things that caused me frustration and anger.

Suddenly, I noticed a strong tension in my lower jaw.

It was as if the bone was replaced by lead or some other heavy metal.

Once I felt it, I couldn’t unfeel it.

Like my shoulders when it comes to self-expectations of performance, my lower jaw seems to be the bearer of much of the feelings of frustration and anger I’ve felt over my life (and there’s been a lot).

I’ve had a lot of oral problems. A tumor in my lower jaw. All kinds of periodontal surgery. Implants on the way.

I began to wonder if there was a connection between what a person who feels and holds onto a lot of anger and frustration in his jaw and these very real physical problems.

No idea, but it doesn’t matter.

One of my teachers says, “let it go, but if you can’t let it go, can you let it be?”

When things occur that might make me angry or frustrated, I may not be able to let them go. I may not want to.

But I need to let them be.

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*Originally published on [jer979](https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2/jaws-of-lead)*