EP 419: What is the Purpose of Anger?

Whether we’re looking at the events surrounding politics, or the divisive energy surrounding the global pandemic, it seems that anger is everywhere. As an emotion, anger is perhaps the greatest motivator. But the purpose of this powerful emotion, as with all the emotions we experience as human beings, is to motivate us to action. Unfortunately, this is not what happens for most people. For most people, anger is mere expression. And when we simply express our anger, without resolution of action, it will almost always result in conflict. This conflict will result in stress in our bodies which causes more anger and soon enough we are caught in a very dangerous cycle. And that’s exactly what’s happening in our world today. What we can do instead, is allow the anger to arise within us and, seeing it with honor and curiosity, we can learn and grow from what it tells us. This process will end in resolution and reconciliation. The important difference is that we will remain healthy in the face of this process. I invite you to get to know your anger and let it inform your compassion for yourself and others. Would you like to learn how?