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July 18, 2025 - Understanding Anger: The Emotion We Love to Hate
Better things are ahead so keep an open mind, take small steps, and trust the journey.
Daily Motivation
July 18, 2025
TODAY'S MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE
Just for you, Friend
There’s always something better ahead. These messy, confusing moments may not make sense now, but they're guiding you to your breakthrough. Let go of the urge... Continue Reading
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Understanding Anger: The Emotion We Love to Hate
We've all been there.
That moment when your face flushes, your jaw clenches, and suddenly you're seeing red. Maybe someone cut you off in traffic, your boss took credit for your work, or a loved one crossed a line. In that instant, anger feels like fire in your veins - powerful, consuming, and impossible to ignore.
But here's what most of us never learned: anger isn't the villain we've made it out to be.
Society has taught us to fear anger, suppress it, apologize for it. We're told that "good people" don't get angry, that it's destructive and dangerous…
Silence: The Powerful Pause That Can Refresh and Recharge You
People often choose to vacation in natural surroundings because they love the stillness that comes with it.
Take a moment to think about it. Besides the sound of birds chirping and singing, or crickets making music, silence is the overriding element. But that's what creates an atmosphere of calm and tranquility, helping us to let go of built-up stress and anxiety.
We're surrounded by constant noise and commotion in our daily lives, which can take a toll on our emotional and physical well-being.
Being in nature and enjoying silence allows us to exhale all the negativity we've accumulated, allowing us to relax and focus on our innermost thoughts.
What I’m Unlearning
What I'm Unlearning: That I'm Not Allowed to Express or Feel Anger
I was raised in a house where anger was one of the emotions that made everyone else uncomfortable. My mom would get this pinched look when voices rose, and my dad would retreat to his workshop. The message was clear:
anger is ugly
anger is destructive
anger makes you a bad person
So I learned to swallow it, and for decades, I turned my anger inward.
When someone cut me off in traffic, I'd think "maybe they're having a bad day."
When a friend repeatedly flaked on plans, I'd make excuses for them.
When my boss took credit for my work, I'd smile and say "no problem."
I was so proud of myself for being "easy-going" and "understanding."
What I was actually doing was abandoning myself.
The wake-up call came during a particularly brutal work meeting where I watched a colleague steamroll over my ideas, again. I felt that familiar fire in my chest - the one I'd been putting out for thirty years. But this time, instead of smothering it, I let myself feel it. And you know what? It had something important to tell me.
My anger wasn't some wild, destructive force. It was my inner alarm system saying "this isn't okay." It was pointing to my boundaries, my values, my sense of what's right. All those times I'd pushed it down, I was essentially telling myself that my feelings didn't matter, and other people's comfort was more important than my own dignity.
I'm learning that anger can be a compass. It shows me:
where I need to speak up
where I need to set a boundary
where something important to me is being threatened
The problem was never the anger itself - it was that I never learned how to express it in healthy ways.
Now when I feel that fire, I don't immediately douse it with "I'm being dramatic" or "I shouldn't feel this way." I pause and ask:
What is this trying to tell me?
What boundary has been crossed?
Are you comfortable with feeling and expressing your anger? We’d love to hear your story! Simply reply to this email and we might feature your experience in an upcoming newsletter.
Anger is one of the most difficult emotions to understand and communicate. If you need some help getting started, we recommend checking this book out:
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Today’s Quote
Today's Affirmation
I am creating powerful shifts in my mindset. My wisdom grows with every new experience. I will keep pushing toward my goals… Continue Reading
Your reminder to take a digital break - Credit @twillostory - IG
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