March 20, 2008
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Inner Pieces, Volume 2
Ok, so where did we leave off yesterday?
Oh yeah. Jesus got mad because he was hungry and didn't get his needs met, because he saw what he believed to be injustices going on, and because no one understood what he was trying to say.
So, is Jesus an acceptable model for our behavior or not? Was he too closely identified with his ego? Was he not enlightened enough?
Can I get an amen?
Our anger helps us to stand up for ourselves and others when we don't get our needs met, when anything we deem unfair is happening, or when we cannot make ourselves understood. Being sad is an important emotion too. So is feeling happy, or afraid, or any other emotion. The whole emotional spectrum is an important part of a healthy psychological make-up.
Ok - so, now that I've said my piece on all that....
Back to the original question: How is anger positive?
Feeling my anger instead of repressing it is positive because by doing so I am acknowledging rather than denying that injustices were done, or are being done, to me (or my loved ones), or I am standing up for my own needs. Repressing and denying leads to my being stuck in sadness, depression, addiction, helplessness, insecurity, and victim-hood.
Being in touch with my anger gives me the assertiveness, and the defiance, to stand up to the bullies who have tried to control what I said or did or felt or believed, who have shamed me for having feelings they deemed inappropriate or that they couldn't handle, who have lied to me, manipulated me, broken promises, or failed to be what they should have been.
Can I have inner peace and still be in touch with my anger? Of course, yes. Being in touch with 'the dark side' is like visiting an old powerful necessary friend who is part of me, but not all of me. It's like plugging myself in to a nuclear reactor and letting that power course through me, washing all the bile clean out of me and onto my paper (or the computer screen). I can be angry and be aware of my anger, seeing it, feeling it, and at the same time knowing that it is not me.
It's like my boxing drills where I go in feeling pent-up and mean, I beat up the rubber dummy, and come out feeling elated and peaceful inside.
Who would have thought that expressing anger could lead to inner peace?
Maybe next time I'll share what I think emotions actually are.
Comments (3)
I like that you circled back around to the original question. I think this is an important subject and I'm thinking through a lot of different aspects and perspectives as you write about it and we talk about it.
Anger is not a good emotion for me...I do knwo that in my anger some positive things have happened because of it. And not some so positive things.
yeah, count down to Iowa!
I love having SOMEthing to look forward to (although it looks like I am going to travel quite a bit in the next 3 weeks)
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