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How we view and understand anger largely determines how we experience its effects in our life. This article will look at two contrasting views:

1. Anger is bad and something to suppress, diminish, ignore, shun, or otherwise avoid. 2. Anger is a form of energy that, in and of itself is free of any problem.

In the first view we separate ourselves from anger: I’m here and anger is over there. We see anger as something from the outside that comes into or over us. In this psychological stance anger is a threat, and we respond by either shutting it down or acting it out. With this view we’re helpless to do anything about anger because we have externalized it and so we have no power to change our situation.

2. The second view is that the anger is free of any problem: It’s simply a form of energy that passes through us. Anger is a natural part of our makeup as human beings, and when we learn to let it be as it is, it arises, dwells, and ceases, like the wind or the rain. There are no problems with anger other than the ones we create by resisting it.

If we recognize anger for what it is – a form of energy moving in our body and mind – we can learn to respond to that energy effectively by relaxing and letting it be. Letting be doesn’t mean ignoring. Letting be means being present with the energy of anger and realizing it’s not a threat. Being present with the energy of anger in this way gives us clarity of mind to respond to anger in a way that doesn’t escalate it and make the situation worse.

Being present allows us take responsibility for our anger, allowing us to relate with it in a healthy and effective manner. This includes how we experience anger in ourselves, and how we respond to it as it manifests in the world around us.

When we have the confidence that the energy of anger isn’t a problem, indeed over time it becomes less and less of a problem.

By Craig Mollins