I knew this guy once who was always angry. If I carried on a conversation with him, I would find myself getting angry. I finally had to admit that I enjoyed being around him because he made me feel angry. It felt really good to be angry; it made me feel more alive.
So, here’s the deal, anger has a certain attracting power because it needs it to survive. Outer circumstances that can stir up feelings of anger are actually feeding it if we give in to the feelings. Like anything else that is alive, the anger within us needs food.
Anger, like all emotions, knows how to survive. It has an innate intelligence. It defends itself by using our intellect to rationalize that anger doesn't harm us, that anger is just a natural reaction when someone crosses us. When we succumb to this brainwashing, anger would do a happy dance if it could because we have just given it a “shot in the arm,” so to speak. We have diverted our energies to support it.
There are no accidents. Anger does serve a purpose, but it is not to attack the people or circumstances out there. Instead, we need to separate from the world of experience and take a hard look at this borrowed emotion called anger. As I said, it is what is drawing those outer circumstances to us that are supposedly making us angry. In the Bible, it says to “love those whom you hate or do you harm.” Why do you suppose that is? It is because these persons give us the opportunity to pull anger out into the light and take a good look at it.
I am no different than anyone else on this planet, but I do want to make the best use of the time while I am here. One of the things I can do is recognize that anger is an emotion that I borrowed from the example of those around me when I was young and accepted as part of who I am. In truth, it blocks my ability to create a better life, whether that is emotionally, mentally, or physically.
So what would you be like if no person, place, or experience could make you angry? I don’t know, but don’t you think it would be an interesting experience? Just the idea that you could decide what person, place, or experience has the power to make you angry would be a MindSlap! Would you be the same person you currently see in the mirror?
None of us has a full knowledge of the power of choice, but wouldn't it be interesting to see what would happen if you lived your life expressing this power? Rather than flipping out, you would more likely demonstrate the message in the song “Don’t Worry. Be Happy!”
So, here’s the deal, anger has a certain attracting power because it needs it to survive. Outer circumstances that can stir up feelings of anger are actually feeding it if we give in to the feelings. Like anything else that is alive, the anger within us needs food.
Anger, like all emotions, knows how to survive. It has an innate intelligence. It defends itself by using our intellect to rationalize that anger doesn't harm us, that anger is just a natural reaction when someone crosses us. When we succumb to this brainwashing, anger would do a happy dance if it could because we have just given it a “shot in the arm,” so to speak. We have diverted our energies to support it.
There are no accidents. Anger does serve a purpose, but it is not to attack the people or circumstances out there. Instead, we need to separate from the world of experience and take a hard look at this borrowed emotion called anger. As I said, it is what is drawing those outer circumstances to us that are supposedly making us angry. In the Bible, it says to “love those whom you hate or do you harm.” Why do you suppose that is? It is because these persons give us the opportunity to pull anger out into the light and take a good look at it.
I am no different than anyone else on this planet, but I do want to make the best use of the time while I am here. One of the things I can do is recognize that anger is an emotion that I borrowed from the example of those around me when I was young and accepted as part of who I am. In truth, it blocks my ability to create a better life, whether that is emotionally, mentally, or physically.
So what would you be like if no person, place, or experience could make you angry? I don’t know, but don’t you think it would be an interesting experience? Just the idea that you could decide what person, place, or experience has the power to make you angry would be a MindSlap! Would you be the same person you currently see in the mirror?
None of us has a full knowledge of the power of choice, but wouldn't it be interesting to see what would happen if you lived your life expressing this power? Rather than flipping out, you would more likely demonstrate the message in the song “Don’t Worry. Be Happy!”
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