Anger is Fear
Anger is an outward expression of our own fear - fear of powerlessness, fear of mortality, fear of not being recognized, fear of not being heard, fear of not being able to do the right thing...fear.

But it is counterintuitive too. Anger, though it offers a scathing show of bravado, really doesn't do anything constructive or positive - it doesn't change things, it doesn't make things happen, it doesn't shift energy, it doesn't make things better. Useless.

Real bravery is when we are able to live in peace; it's when we recognize that no matter what someone else is doing, our strength lies in our own response, and our response is 100% our choice - always. It is something that can never be taken away from us.

America is an angry nation, we grow up seething in anger and learn to deal with life's every opposing wind with anger, but there is no amount of anger in the world that will shift the wind. And there is no amount of anger in ourselves that will heal what ails us and make us fearless. There's no hope for it, but to deal with anger - cold turkey. Nothing that anyone else can do is worth your anger - because anger never changes anything - only your attitude can change things.

Change happens because we give ourselves permission to make different choices. We take responsibility for how we respond, and choose different responses. And life changes. Threats cease, obstacles disappear, paths open, people are kind, things happen.

Yes, yes, anger is fear. But everyday we must choose - in order for anger to live, it needs to be chosen. Stop choosing it, and it will shrivel up and die.

Choose well.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2009 Darshan F Jessop