Anger

We’ve talked about humor and its importance to the human condition. We’ve talked about happiness and how essential it is to our humanity. Let’s take a moment to talk about anger.

As an aside, I made a promise when I started this newsletter that I wouldn’t venture into politics. I’m going to do my best with this post, but it may brush right up against that promise (or even stick a toe across the line).

There is a significant amount of anger in this country right now – most of it is very understandable. Especially as we look at actions that are being taken across both the public and private sectors. There is a distinct lack of humanity in much that is happening – meaning a distinct lack of empathy, mercy, compassion, or care. It’s as if there is a deliberate process of dehumanization that is taking place (tongue planted firmly in cheek).

As a little background, dehumanization started, in many ways, as a tool of war and conflict. Don’t see the enemy as a human – it’s much easier to kill or rationalize acts of cruelty on another being (that is other than human). Unfortunately, politicians saw the value in dehumanization as well – to create a perception of the opponent or the opponent’s supporters as less than human.

Not going to lie, I’m fuck*ng angry. I’m angry at how terrified hardworking people are they might be deported. I’m angry that dedicated employees are truly scared they might lose their jobs for no reason other than because. I’m angry that people are fearful for their health and well-being. I’m angry at the pettiness and casual attitude of our current leadership. I’m angry that our elected leaders are sitting idly by and doing nothing to stop this process of dehumanization.

Anger is a very natural human feeling and emotion. We’ve all experienced it at some point in our lives – and sometimes it is incredibly intense. But what do we do with all the anger we feel or have felt?

Swallowing our anger and not processing it can have negative consequences. For example, there’s a term called “emotion swapping” where we swap our anger for a different (potentially safer) emotion such as sadness or anxiety. The anger simply manifests itself in a different way, but it hasn’t been processed. There are other consequences as well – passive aggressiveness, high blood pressure, ongoing headaches, and sleeplessness.

On the flip side, letting anger control us and erupt at the peak of our rage can have very negative consequences for our relationships and people we care about (and, potentially, inanimate objects that might be the focus of our ire).  

Channeling our anger in a very humane way, however, can be very powerful and cathartic. And it can actually make a positive difference. Writing down what makes us angry and why can make it real and help us identify the true source of our anger so we can address it properly.

Community and social interactions are also important to help us channel and process our anger in a productive way. Talking to others about what is making us angry (we all need to vent now and again) will generate new ideas for how to address the anger we are feeling. And it may help us address our anger collectively.

And, um, writing letters to elected officials to hold them accountable for their actions and inactions that are leading us down a path of dehumanization as a country. Just sayin’.  

The above are just a couple of examples. We each have our own techniques for dealing with anger. The important thing is to do something with our anger and not let it stew inside us and turn toxic – or become “eruptive.”

I’ll close it with a link to a great TED Talk to help us think differently about anger.

Until next week.

Andy

(All written content created the old-fashioned way.)