Anger...... A wasted emotion?

Anger  - is it a wasted emotion 

I heard someone say on a TV programme I was watching yesterday that they thought anger was a wasted emotion, but is it, I am not sure I agree.

Some of the most important changes in our world have taken place because someone got angry, someone stood up and said it’s not right that women don’t get to vote, black people are slaves, the people that died at Hillsborough don’t get justice. Someone got angry, got up and fought and in doing so they changed things.

I feel it’s the anger that drove the people that fought for these causes forward; it’s the anger at losing someone to a disease like cancer that drives someone to run a marathon to raise funds in their name. Of course underneath the anger there is often extreme sadness but it’s the anger that is the catalyst for change. Anger is an energetic force where as sadness, although equally valid, is a more submissive energy, being sad about an injustice rarely changes things, being angry about it often does.

A counselor once said to me as I struggled with my anger, ‘Anger is a valid emotion, and it’s useful, it cuts through a lot of bullshit!’. He was right it does.

 My feeling is that anger is important and needs to be acknowledged. It is as valid as any other emotion, and to deny it is like denying any other emotion or part of you. If you see that your anger is part of you and you are able to embrace it, it’s like embracing your shadow, owning and accepting the parts of you which you see as not so acceptable can be very empowering.

Now I am not saying it’s ok to go rioting in the streets, or to hold on to anger so that it festers inside you and eats away at you.  I feel that when anger really is wasted or destructive is when it is held onto without being used in a positive way or it explodes into violence(although many things would not have been changed with out it - but that's a different story). 

If you can find a way to acknowledge it and then release it or use it to achieve something positive, like getting those running shoes on and tackling that marathon in the name of a lost loved one – then it really is not wasted.

Obviously these are just my personal opinions and I would love to hear yours  so please feel free to comment on this post, and don’t forget that there is help out there if you are struggling with anger, loss,  sadness or any other related issues, counselling helped me deal with mine and it really can be beneficial.

©JaneHeronApril30th2014 

www.complementarycare.org