In a mad dash to react away from the perils of anger, we went too far and lost a key piece of the emotional integrity and expression cycle.
This is particularly true in the spiritual community, where peacefulness has been characterized as a symbol of awakening, even if it is inauthentic and a bypass of the unresolved anger still brewing below the surface
It’s important to remember that anger is a legitimate emotion that signals that a person has been violated. It is also a necessary emotion if we are going to do the work of sacred activism and challenge existing paradigms that cause suffering.
Calm alone will not make the world a better place at this stage.
By discouraging and shaming anger, we actually disrupt natural emotional rhythms and encourage inauthentic ways of being.
In addition, repressing the emotions simply keeps the anger alive.
The negativity goes underground,
manifesting in a myriad of destructive forms,
including passive aggressiveness,
self-destructive behaviour and
all manner of disease.
It is one thing to discourage the inappropriate expression of anger, but let us not throw the whole process out with the bath water.
There is a place for healthy anger in an evolving world.
ps/smoh ^__^
Adida;
"While it is true that anger should not be repressed...I wonder if it is also necessary to point out that anger is a symptom of either frustration or disappointment and it would be wise for the person feeling the anger to discern what is at the root of their anger as opposed to just expressing anger....I wonder if this is where anger gets its bum rap....knowing where your anger has its roots and expressing it from either the frustration or disappointment place might lead a person to a healthier expression of the anger they are experiencing in turn possibly becoming a potent motivator in changing a situation for the better or just generally letting someone know behaviour or a situation is unacceptable to you.."
Robyn;
"Repression of emotions isn't healthy. There's a time and a place for channelling them in a mature way, but we gotta feel what we're feeling if we want to be healthy and whole and evolving."
Gina;
"I like to think of anger as part of the grief process: denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance. Anger should be fleeting, just part of the journey to reconciliation. To hold on to anger is to prolong suffering both in oneself and those we are connected to. To avoid anger leaves us in denial and bargaining which consumes huge amounts of mental and emotional energy leaving everyone depleted and frustrated. "
Libby;
"Anger can be the great clarifier sweeping away our attempts to deny or bargain.
Anger can also provide the energy push to take us through depression into acceptance. "
