At its most essential level, the energy of anger is the basic clarity of the human mind. Anger is the sharpness of the mental faculty which we all possess. Anyone doing math or reading a book or thinking clearly about anything is using the exact same energy which is at the base of anger.

Before anger happens there is this clarity. Also, the clarity is present within anger itself, but is buried beneath a rigid and self protective mind. Let’s examine several stages of how this energy of clarity distorts into anger:

1. Our clarity of mind naturally arises as a messenger when we are threatened, or when something is off and needs attending to. This could be an immediate threat to our physical well being, a challenge to our personal integrity, or some situation where change is needed. Our intelligent clarity wakes up and says “Look! We need to deal with this!”

For example if your new boss is suddenly rude to you one day and treats you with disrespect, your clarity of mind knows this is not acceptable. The incident sparks your awareness and there is a sharp intensity that arises. It’s like when a gun goes off; you sit up and all of a sudden are very awake.

If you are able to stay with that clarity and act on it, then fine. You communicate with your boss and straighten things out. You are direct and clear with them and let them know it’s not O.K. to treat you rudely. Your clarity of mind helps you say it in the most diplomatic way possible, and you are confident and powerful as you clearly establish your boundary.

2. However we often lose touch with our clarity, and instead we become overly fearful and self protective. Instead of acting with strength and mobilizing this clear energy, we shut down. When we do, in essence we are freezing the natural intelligence which is there to act as our protector. Clarity is sharp and pointed, and it acts to establish a boundary to our integrity, but when we shut it down all sorts of problems start to develop.

3. When we don’t give expression to the clarity, this powerful energy goes underground and distorts into anger. The energy has to go somewhere, and when we don’t let it flow naturally it gets contorted and freezes into a confused form of clarity known as anger.

4. Once we contract the energy of clarity into anger it’s too late for expressing it. Acting out our anger has the opposite effect from expressing the clarity and intelligence. Expressing anger only breeds more anger, both in ourselves and in the environment. Whereas if we can let go of the hardened grip of anger and express the underlying clarity, it liberates us and it liberates the situation.

You can learn ways to liberate your natural clarity from the bondage of anger. This is what’s going on with assertiveness training, conflict resolution, and anger management techniques of all kinds. This is extremely good news because it means anger isn’t some big bad thing you carry around and are condemned by.

Furthermore, the energy of clarity is always available to you as a resource. Anger, as strange as this may sound, holds great potential for creativity and personal growth.

By Craig Mollins