[Ailist] anger

[dp]

I would like put forth a defense of anger.  In and of itself I believe it to
be just another emotion.  The problem is not in the emotion, but what we do
with it.  I have discovered that anger is often a flag - it comes up in
response to seeing people act in a way that seems inappropriate or unethical
(disrespectful, violating boundaries, lack of compassion........).  If I
just dwell in the anger all I get is heightened blood pressure, a sense of
righteousness.....  Another choice is to examine the situation and take
action.  That may mean sorting through the emotion and then addressing the
people involved in a constructive manner.  It may mean a self-examination:
in what ways am I projecting dissatisfaction with myself onto others.  In
this case, the anger can lead me to "clean up my own act."
Perhaps the best service we can provide in working with people is helping
them find the vitality in every situation.  If we allow anger to be another
valid emotion, we can then use it to discover what truly matters to us.  And
therein lies the life-giving qualities of anger.
Deb