Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools. --Albert Einstein
Anger can be a healthy emotion, provided we don't wallow in it or attack other people. When we express anger honestly and without reservation, we can prevent walls of resentment from building up and blocking us off from the intimacy that we strive for in our relationships.
When we allow anger to fester in our heart, we surrender our peace of mind and lose our sense of purpose and self-worth. When we harbor anger rather than openly and respectfully expressing it, we no longer hear our inner spirit. Thus we are cut off from our innate wisdom to guide us in our actions.
We're often drawn to people who express their feelings honestly. This style of communicating serves as an invitation to build a relationship with them based on trust. From this trust we learn to open ourselves to God's love for us as we are.
Today I will feel my anger, express it when necessary, and then let it go so that I can deepen my trust of other people and of God.
I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. --William Blake
We have a right to claim our own feelings. Sometimes we get angry, but hold it inside because we think it's wrong to feel it. If anger builds inside us, it expands like a balloon ready to burst. If not released, it can make us depressed, or even physically ill. When we give ourselves permission to feel anger, we are better able to get rid of it in a healthy way. Our inner voice can tell us how to let go of our anger. And once we've released it, we can easily get in touch with the feelings that caused it.
When we recognize our anger for what it is--one feeling among many others that makes us unique--it loses its significance, and we can prevent it from consuming us. Indira Ghandi said, "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist." When we let go of our anger we can honestly embrace each other with open arms.
Am I carrying around anger which could be released today?
Thanks for sharing what a couple of popular psychologists have to say about anger. I thought I'd look it up in the Big Book to see what AA has to say about anger:
p. 66 - "It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness... with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave... We found that it is fatal, for when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit... If we were to live, we had to be free of anger..."
Anger and serenity cannot co-exist. A person cannot feel anger and serenity at the same time. Which do we prefer? Indira Gandhi's advice is good - letting go of anger, unclench the fist.
Now that doesn't mean to try to feel like everything is alright... accepting things doesn't mean to like them or to become a welcome mat for abusive people. It means not to give in the the emotion, but to THINK and cope with the unjust situation in constructive ways.
love in recovery,
amanda
-- Edited by amanda2u2 at 12:09, 2006-03-02
__________________
do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
good question. what is the source of each post? They do look like 'thought for the day' recovery items. And all of the pop psychology things are good things,,, no question about that. I just wanted to put the AA thing in too. And the topic of 'anger' is an excellent topic. In fact it's one I'm working very hard on right now. Here are some other links:
From another angle, our health is affected by our emotions too. There is a Bible quote.. "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." I forget where that is.
heya, Phil.. how ya doin? I hope you're feeling better. Have you checked out Bernie Siegal's stuff? He wrote a book called, "Love, Medicine, and Miracles"
God bless you,
amanda
-- Edited by amanda2u2 at 14:21, 2006-03-02
__________________
do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time