Wednesday, March 5, 2014

All worked up? Meditation for 3/5/2014

Beaufort SC

“Anger and folly walk hand in hand.”  -Benjamin Franklin

“Using anger to solve problems is like using a fan to organize paperwork.” – Unknown

     The word anger covers a spectrum from mild irritation to intense fury.  This survival instinct that triggers adrenaline, increases heart and breathing rates and triggers hormones is one of our most primitive emotions.   In situations of split-second survival response, the same things are triggered but we do not have time to develop a tantrum.  Therefore I can think of no use for it besides intimidation – which is one of the least effective social tools.

     If we are to be happy and function in society, we must get a handle on our anger and our responses to it.  Un-expressed anger causes chemical and emotional changes that poison us from the inside out.  There are many clinics, articles and books written on managing anger and techniques for dissipating the rage.  But is not better to just avoid it to start with?  Observing ourselves to realize how destructive it is provides motivation for a solution.

     Anger is our reaction to fear that we are not going to get something we want, or are going to lose something we have.  I personally have not found a situation yet where this was not the case.  Once we understand this second step is clear – each time we get angry, we train ourselves to honestly assess why we are afraid.  It takes a bit of practice, but it becomes habit soon.  To the extent that we address that fear, that particular phobia loses its power over us.  It does not take long working this regimen to eliminate the vast majority of fears that trigger our anger.  Soon it becomes a rare event that we allow ourselves to be manipulated into this harmful emotion. Then we are healthier physically and spiritually, and we spend a lot less time cleaning up chaos we have created.  This time will be well spent developing social tools more sophisticated than stones and clubs.

Today, may I remember to treat the illness rather than the symptom.  

Have a great Wednesday !!
David

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