It’s not easy to define anger causes, to pin down the causes of anger in the space of a single article, but we can at least make some broad stroke statements. Since we’re all unique, the factors underlying each person’s anger are also unique, but there are some general statements we can make about anger causes that apply to most people.

Generally speaking, anger causes have to do with not being present with one’s own internal experience. Our inner emotional landscape is jam packed with tremendous amounts of energy, and that energy needs to move. And move it will, whether it does so with our conscious participation, or by getting into an unhealthy cycle of building up tension and then releasing in a spectrum of dysfunctional behavior patterns, including of course anger.

The antidote to this painful cycle is to get in touch with our body, with our emotions, and with the tender and strong love in our heart. This will give us the strength and openness to process our emotional energy, and the causes of anger will gradually start to dissolve.

Exercise: Unwinding the Causes of My Anger

The next time you are angry, take a moment or two to stop and feel your body. This will seem impossible in the moment, so make a commitment in the morning that “When I experience anger today, I’m going to stop and do this exercise.” Then when anger happens, follow through and see what you can discover. Just stay put and notice the sensations in your body. Notice your breathing, notice the weight of your body on you seat or on your feet, and try to just stay there in that space, making contact with yourself.

By Craig Mollins