Expressing anger is a matter of choice
Following the Republican National Convention, someone wrote that he "would be disappointed if anger wasn't a part of the convention." Anger is a normal feeling; however, often it is expressed in an inappropriate way. The Bible says, "Be ye angry and sin not." I have read that when anger is turned inward, it can cause major health problems.
A guy told me someone said he was cynical and it made him mad. Do you think he made himself mad by empowering someone to control his emotions?
I suggested to a client whose counseling goal was to improve his anger management that before expressing anger inappropriately he ask himself, "Do I have to do this, or do I choose to do so?" Choice is one freedom that can't be taken away from us (but we cannot choose the consequences). At the next session, he told me about an occasion when he remembered this question.
We should ask ourselves how we can expend our emotional energy in a positive way.
"Anger which is acknowledged and evaluated loses much of its power. Our behavior is a product of our choice -- not the condition" (author unknown).
Nadine Kernodle
Greensboro
The writer is a licensed counselor.