Let Your Anger Move You
Get a little dirty and move your anger… or maybe I should say, let your anger move you!
In most (all) cases of chronic pain or other chronic symptoms we will find a deep reservoir of repressed anger churning subconsciously. Periodically it may bubble up to consciousness, but it gets swiftly swallowed back down. This is usually due to upbringing and/or personality traits that just tend to have no patience for anger. Our brains and systems learn that anger is dangerous, and yet there it is right under the surface. Repressed anger puts us into a state of high alert. And we now know that chronic high alert = chronic pain.
Many, though not all, who repress their anger also feel fatigued. Sluggish. Depressed. I just read an interesting article on openheartproject.com where the author, Susan Piver, states: “The softer feelings—love, kindness, appreciation, generosity—don’t seem to have the same capacity to wake us from our trances. Rage (and its annoying cousin, irritation) wakes us up. It is impossible to be drowsy and angry. So, even though it is terribly uncomfortable and potentially dangerous, there is something worth examining and harvesting.”
I love this way of putting it — that anger wakes us up and spurs us to act!
She also says, “If anger had layers, the very top layer would be the story attached to it. The story may matter, but not right now. The next layer is the uncomfortable bit, the urge to do something, tear something, cut something, smash something. But wait. The layer just below that is what we are looking for. There, you are likely to find energy that is wakeful, sharp, and fearless.”
Anger as a wakeful, sharp, fearless, clarifying energy - yes! I do notice in myself that once the story and chaotic feeling of rage distills a bit, what is underneath is a very sharp clarity of what I want to, need to, WILL DO next. Anger can be a very powerful, positive driving force.
Let’s address the guilt associated with anger. We must really look at it and ask, “Is my guilt justified? I caused injury or pain to someone else in my anger?” If so, we can make reparations as best we can, forgive ourselves, release and move forward. However SO OFTEN our guilt around anger is not justified. The feeling itself, the silent thoughts, even the visceral experience of it are not wrong or bad or inherently harmful!
I’ll quote Susan Piver once more: “The next time you become angry or irritated, I invite you to try this. Rather than turning away from your anger, turn away from the object of your anger. Lean into your experience and just feel. Allow anger to be present. It is uncomfortable, I know. But when you open to anger, according to this theory, you also open to clarity and wakefulness.”