[Ailist] negative & positive

[Lynn Johnson]

My own notion about anger is that it can be useful information and at the same
time it is not a useful emotion in the long run, since it narrows focus and
reduces creativity and adaptability. My own theory at the moment is that we are
less intelligent when angry, and so working out the anger by converting it into
goals and finding positive energy to work towards those goals is probably the
best thing. PET scans of the brains of people who are angry suggests the frontal
lobes are not engaged during anger, it is the more primitive parts of the brain.
And my own sad experience is that I say things when angry that in retrospect I
feel profound embarasment and shame over. Empathy, compassion and connection
seem to soothe anger in me, and then I am ready to move on and think more
productively.
IMHO,
Lynn

Kelly Taylor wrote:

> GOOD QUESTION. it sort of touches at the roots of MANY problems. how do i
> change the world when i can't? how much can i change my approaches,
> attitudes and reactions to the world? AND HOW MUCH DO I WANT TO? i can
> always lower my expectations, but that's not a solution. long term i can
> change my environment and (maybe) not have to deal with so many people who
> don't value me. i'd be interested in pursuing this further -- sometimes
> anger is a good indicator that something is very wrong within an environment
> that can't or won't or doesn't want to be changed.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lynn Johnson [mailto:ljohnson@solution-consulting.com]
> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 7:31 AM
> To: Appreciative Inquiry List
> Subject: [Ailist] negative & positive
>
> I have a little piece I do on 'problems and goals' where we list
> problems, make them very specific and then turn them into goals. The
> notion is that negative feelings can be transformed into
> solution-focused efforts by expressing and then transforming them.
> Problem: I am angry and the people in my department because they devalue
> my ideas.
> Goal: I want to find a way to be heard in meetings.
> (How will that help?) Describe the results of the goal until there is
> positive energy around accomplishing that goal. Now the 'negative
> emotions' have been used to create a wonderful and life-giving goal.
>
> Lynn
>
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