Perhaps some may think this belongs in the Philosophy and Faith subforum. But then perhaps those that think so - could consider they could be mistaken...
Anger is a derivative of the Fight facet of the primitive Fight, Flee or Freeze reflex to change. However, it is not a hardwired emotion. We can choose when to get angry and what to get angry about. Unfortunately too many of us have allowed ourselves to be conditioned by others to get angry, trained to become angry given certain stimuli, becoming habitually angered by the same types of changes that angered us in our childhood or at some other point in the distant past.
It is not a sin to become angry, nor is it always a mistake. Anger is a powerful defense mechanism that may have saved many more lives than it has destroyed. Again, the quandary is that if anger experienced is not expressed it then becomes an ‘arrested’ defense that becomes an internal toxin, fairly quickly decomposing into bitterness and hatred.
Forgiveness may be the only antidote for the poison of internalized anger, a root of bitterness.
The key to managing One’s anger is the realization that anger is something that can be managed.
Anger is not a resource to be wasted upon unconscious reflexive re-action, but rather better used to initiate conscious action . Indeed, we have the responsibility of spending our anger wisely in opposition to threat, in aggressive action aimed at appropriate targets. We can use our anger to achieve our own goals.
Unfortunately, it is often the case that others provoke us into using our anger to achieve their own goals, for angry behavior, is very often predictable behavior. We are all vulnerable to manipulation when we become predictable. Often this manipulation is accomplished by the focusing of our anger, by one claiming to be of Us, upon an other or a group of others as targets and blaming THEM, in the role of scapegoat or antagonists, for the threat or fait accompli. It is always easier to lay the blame on THEM, than to blame our own selves, to look for THEIR mistakes instead of our own… ‘Be Angry, but sin not’, those who are easily provoked into anger are just as easy to provoke into sinning, into making the false judgments of a mob, into making mistakes.
Still and all, there is little real profit in blaming THEM for our own pain and distress, for our power through anger is misdirected and lost by believing that it is THEM whom have the power to cause our pain and provoke our distress and therefore relief from such is also THEIRS to give or to have taken from THEM. Proper attribution of threat may be impossible to ascertain still one does has power to adapt One’s self to avoid pain and distress, but very little, if any, power to change THEM, to prevent future pain or distress. Blame One own self for one’s own pain. Look for One’s own mistakes, then forgive one’s self for not being perfect, realizing how One has been mistaken.
How does One Use Anger, instead of becoming used by Anger?
Express anger, get it out immediately - one way or another. Project anger - Do not reject or deny it, which internalizes it. Holding onto anger is almost as stupid as holding onto a grenade, instead of throwing it. It is odd that Anger is not mentioned as one of the psychological Defense mechanisms, perhaps that is because so many of them, as listed by Freud and others, are anger in different manifestations. However, because the best defense is a good offense, examining aggression, as a fruit, instead a weed might be productive.
First and foremost, physical aggression targeted at other humans is most often a mistake and a sin. Yet sometimes it is not, for we expect those who enforce our laws and protect our lives to do so, using physical aggression when necessary. It then perhaps wise to leave the option of physical aggression in the hands of those professionals.
Instead, let use anger to pursue our own goals, aggressively. Get angry at those obstacles that stand between one and success, aggressively approach and overcome such barriers. Anger can be used to reach both short term and long-term goals. The challenge is fitting anger into one’s plans… How many know how to plan anger, how to provoke that energy when it is needed most? One learns first how to simply channel the anger, once it has been provoked by whatever cause and then one learns how to become the sole cause of one’s own anger. Anger as an exercise of free will, as a part of a design can be a powerful tool accounted as an asset and not a liability.
How does One express Anger profitably?
The answer is in the question. That is to say, if anger is examined as a means of self-expression it can be seen as an Art form. In fact, Art History can be seen from the interesting perspective as the history of anger, the passionate efforts of impassioned artists.
In this context, One can’t help but wonder about the true Passions of Christ…
Anger is a derivative of the Fight facet of the primitive Fight, Flee or Freeze reflex to change. However, it is not a hardwired emotion. We can choose when to get angry and what to get angry about. Unfortunately too many of us have allowed ourselves to be conditioned by others to get angry, trained to become angry given certain stimuli, becoming habitually angered by the same types of changes that angered us in our childhood or at some other point in the distant past.
It is not a sin to become angry, nor is it always a mistake. Anger is a powerful defense mechanism that may have saved many more lives than it has destroyed. Again, the quandary is that if anger experienced is not expressed it then becomes an ‘arrested’ defense that becomes an internal toxin, fairly quickly decomposing into bitterness and hatred.
Forgiveness may be the only antidote for the poison of internalized anger, a root of bitterness.
The key to managing One’s anger is the realization that anger is something that can be managed.
Anger is not a resource to be wasted upon unconscious reflexive re-action, but rather better used to initiate conscious action . Indeed, we have the responsibility of spending our anger wisely in opposition to threat, in aggressive action aimed at appropriate targets. We can use our anger to achieve our own goals.
Unfortunately, it is often the case that others provoke us into using our anger to achieve their own goals, for angry behavior, is very often predictable behavior. We are all vulnerable to manipulation when we become predictable. Often this manipulation is accomplished by the focusing of our anger, by one claiming to be of Us, upon an other or a group of others as targets and blaming THEM, in the role of scapegoat or antagonists, for the threat or fait accompli. It is always easier to lay the blame on THEM, than to blame our own selves, to look for THEIR mistakes instead of our own… ‘Be Angry, but sin not’, those who are easily provoked into anger are just as easy to provoke into sinning, into making the false judgments of a mob, into making mistakes.
Still and all, there is little real profit in blaming THEM for our own pain and distress, for our power through anger is misdirected and lost by believing that it is THEM whom have the power to cause our pain and provoke our distress and therefore relief from such is also THEIRS to give or to have taken from THEM. Proper attribution of threat may be impossible to ascertain still one does has power to adapt One’s self to avoid pain and distress, but very little, if any, power to change THEM, to prevent future pain or distress. Blame One own self for one’s own pain. Look for One’s own mistakes, then forgive one’s self for not being perfect, realizing how One has been mistaken.
How does One Use Anger, instead of becoming used by Anger?
Express anger, get it out immediately - one way or another. Project anger - Do not reject or deny it, which internalizes it. Holding onto anger is almost as stupid as holding onto a grenade, instead of throwing it. It is odd that Anger is not mentioned as one of the psychological Defense mechanisms, perhaps that is because so many of them, as listed by Freud and others, are anger in different manifestations. However, because the best defense is a good offense, examining aggression, as a fruit, instead a weed might be productive.
First and foremost, physical aggression targeted at other humans is most often a mistake and a sin. Yet sometimes it is not, for we expect those who enforce our laws and protect our lives to do so, using physical aggression when necessary. It then perhaps wise to leave the option of physical aggression in the hands of those professionals.
Instead, let use anger to pursue our own goals, aggressively. Get angry at those obstacles that stand between one and success, aggressively approach and overcome such barriers. Anger can be used to reach both short term and long-term goals. The challenge is fitting anger into one’s plans… How many know how to plan anger, how to provoke that energy when it is needed most? One learns first how to simply channel the anger, once it has been provoked by whatever cause and then one learns how to become the sole cause of one’s own anger. Anger as an exercise of free will, as a part of a design can be a powerful tool accounted as an asset and not a liability.
How does One express Anger profitably?
The answer is in the question. That is to say, if anger is examined as a means of self-expression it can be seen as an Art form. In fact, Art History can be seen from the interesting perspective as the history of anger, the passionate efforts of impassioned artists.
In this context, One can’t help but wonder about the true Passions of Christ…
