Are you afraid of your anger?
If so, you’re not alone. Many people are afraid of their anger. Western culture — and especially the toxic positivity of much personal growth culture — tells us that anger is “wrong” and “bad” and not “becoming.”
Especially for women.
In fact, “anger” is so taboo that we have a lexicon of alternative words for it:
- Annoyance
- Frustration
- Pissed Off
- Perturbed
- Irritated
- Exasperated
All of this is just anger.
There’s nothing wrong with anger. It’s a common emotion that we are bound to feel periodically.
In fact, anger can be a potent tool for awareness.
Anger can tell us where our boundaries have been crossed, or where we need boundaries that we didn’t realize we needed.
Sometimes it reveals a boundary that we didn’t know we had.
Anger can reveal where we’ve been disrespected, disempowered, belittled, underestimated, discounted, minimized, or taken for granted. It can show us where we need to stand up stronger and taller for what’s important to us, and for the respect we’ve earned.
But you’ll never get to the point of identifying the boundary or learning the lessons from anger if you don’t acknowledge and allow the anger in the first place.
That doesn’t mean you have to act on the anger, or even express it to anyone else.
It does mean that you can’t avoid it.
Anger isn’t something to run away from; it is something to embrace and befriend — like a wise teacher showing you the path forward.
If you take the time to get to know it, it can help you create stronger boundaries and grow your sense of self.
Love it? Hate it? What do you think? Don't hold back...