Archive: Around Town

Healing WellIn our daily conversations, how often do we hear the phrase, “I’m so angry I could just . . .” You might be surprised by how often people use this phrase in their daily conversations. For most of us, anger can be a justifiable or righteous emotion. It might even be an appropriate response to some event or action. Anger is a healthy emotion that needs to be expressed freely but in ways that are therapeutic. The feelings of anger we have need to be released without hostility or aggression

For example, we might be reading a newspaper or magazine and come across an article on a famine. As we read the article, we may become upset about a policy or military action that is creating this famine. It might appear to even be preventable if individuals in power exercised some common sense. The article may describe the victims and show some photos of malnourished children.

As we finished reading the article, our response might be multifaceted. Profound sadness could be our initial response as we stare at the photo of a starving child. After a few moments, anger would certainly build up inside, and we might begin to ask the “how” and “why” questions. We might circulate the article among co-workers or members of our faith community to determine their response to this tragic event. The anger we feel might cause us to write a letter to the editor of the newspaper, call our representative in Congress, or donate to a charity that deals with famine relief.

Such an outlet for our anger is indeed justifiable. Our anger needs to be expressed, but in a way that is non-threatening to ourselves and others around us. Our ability to deal with a problem in a civilized manner is a skill that we acquire. It is not automatic. All too often we find individuals and even countries dealing with their anger in a violent and forceful manner. This approach is of benefit to no one. It only leads to further hostility and increased violence.

A healthy, therapeutic approach to releasing anger is an essential skill. It enables individuals and groups of people to express their anger in ways that are beneficial to themselves and often to others. In the example described above, an individual’s anger, expressed in a non-violent manner, became the catalyst for positive change. There was a serious attempt to take one’s anger and transform it into a force for change.

Next week, we will explore the process of anger management.

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