MORE ON ANGER

It is a little gray outside. It was 22 degrees F when I got up; but it is warming up nicely. It is now 37.2. Spring is back, despite the gray. One has to look to find the few traces of snow that are left. I have been seeing Redwing Blackbirds, Robins, Bluebirds and I have heard Sand Hill Cranes and Green Herons, for at least a week.

I just took a sip of coffee and spewed it up my nose. How does that happen? How does it happen that one normally takes a drink of coffee and it goes up the back of your nose? Oh well, the unpleasant sensation is fading now. I can get back to the subject of this blog. Oh! What is the subject of your blog Gregg? Well we will have to just wait and see, won't we.

I haven't settled on what to write about. I have much more to say about healing/learning centers, and our need for relearning; but I don't feel like delving into one of those topics today.

Ever since I wrote Friday's blog, I have been thinking about the problem with anger and why we hang on to it. I talked about the delusion that it is protective; but it has other seductive features. When we feel helpless and afraid it makes us feel energized. When we have low grade, chronic depression, it can make us feel alive. When anger temporarily lifts us out of feeling bad, we don't recognize the downside. It can effect us in the same way an addictive drug does. We can use it to feel alive and in charge.

Clever politicians play on folks, chronic dissatisfaction with their life. Anger energizes them and promises some hope for change. Of course, the politician gets what he wants, their vote, and there the promise ends.

Anger can be a vicious poison, disguised as something helpful. It is never helpful. It will always engender more negativity.

When I say we need to give up our anger, I am not recommending we repress our anger. It causes greater distress when we push it down. If we are angry, we are angry. We must look at it and see what it is about. Who do we need to forgive? What do we need to see differently? Underlying anger is some kind of fear; what are we afraid of?

Many folks walk around with chronic anger because they are afraid to get in touch with it. They have been carefully taught that they shouldn't feel that way. They often need to feel their anger, to discover it won't destroy themselves or who they are angry with. It helps to see a shrink or someone we can talk to safely. We need to work these things out in a safe relationship. Folks do amazing things with contemplation and meditation, but a good therapeutic relationship is very facilitating.

Anger has been with us for eons. To give it up we need to see how useless it has been; both personally and globally. We can't give up something we still think has value. Look at it. Study it. Use your knowingness. You will see we don't need it. We don't want it.

Happy Monday Folks!

Love and Peace, Gregg