Everything in life has a price tag. Go into any store and rarely will you find anything that is free. Purchasing a new car may give us a feeling of elation, comfort & prestige, but it costs.
Expressing our anger can be a relief. It can influence or even control a situation but it too has a price tag.
The first time we see the effects of anger in scripture, they are very destructive. "But on Cain & his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain "why are you Angry? (Gen 4:5-6)
Cain was angry at his brother because Abel's sacrifice was acceptable & his own was not. Inwardly Cain experienced anger, and the result was MURDER (Gen 4:8). Cain was alienated from his brother, other people and from God. His anger led to murder and extreme loneliness.
Anger motivates a person to hate, wound, damage, annihilate, despise, scorn, loathe, curse, ruin and demolish. All of these are negative effect of anger. However, when properly appropriated, anger instead of demanding and fueling revenge, is a productive energy that creates a new understanding of the world. Anger, however, cannot become healing or transformative if left on its own. It has to be respected and invited into consciousness before it with share its power. Yes...the real anger is not the feeling itself but the ways in which the attempt to contain oy hollow out one's humanity rather than enhance it.
Anger become destructive when its used to diminish instead of serving as passion for change.
How do you deal with anger in a positive way?
You admit it, you accept it and you release it in a healthy way. You use anger's energy to do something constructive. Yes.... Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was founded because of the constructive use of anger directed toward a major problem in the society---drinking and driving. The (MADD) organization has made the society aware of the problem of drunk drivers on our roads & highways & has helped to establish and reinforce laws to prosecute those who victimize others through their negligence.
There are many other examples of anger directed to constructive ends. A family who lost their son in swimming accident at a lake organized a group of parents to convince resort managers and game officials to post warning signs about water hazards to avoid and help prevent other similar tragedies.
A young mother whose two year old son died in the cancer ward of a hospital developed a cooperative program among fifteen churches in her city to set up support groups for parents of children who have died. In addition, each church solicited from merchants and families for the hospital pediatric ward.
Actress Theresa Saldano almost lost her life in a premeditated violent attack. She was stabbed again, and required more than a thousand stitches in her body. The attack left her with feelings of terror, intense pain and rage that gave her energy to fight pain and the sick desires of her assailant. It was also her rage at society I'll treatment of victims that gave her vision to form a victim advocacy group called "victims of victims"
So start today, use your angers energy to do something constructive. Deal with anger in a positive way.....Best wishes!
Rossy!
