Thich Nhat Hanh ~ Anger
But how does the seed of anger within us develop?
And when is it actually healthy to feel angry?
If we grow up with a domineering or out-of-control parent, or larger cultural context of fear (oppression) then anger can feel terrifying and therefore end up suppressed.
Also if we grow up in a culture of judgement, rather than a culture of acceptance, where everyone is accepted and loved for their uniqueness, it can feel very scary to assert ourselves.
And yet like all emotions, healthy anger is actually essential to a whole experience of being human. Violence, on the other hand, is not an essential part of the human experience and is something we have far too much of in our world today.
So how do we get from violence or suppressed anger (two sides of the same coin) to fierce love, healthy anger and healthy boundaries?
“When we are afraid of confrontation, we end up with violence.” Martin Prechtel
Play the video below for more wisdom on Anger ~ Navigating the Darker Emotions with Josea Tamira Crossley.
For more on working with the emotion of Anger, we recommend, ANGER ~ Wisdom for Cooling the Flames by Thich Nhat Hanh