Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.
Maya Angelou
When I first read this quote, it impacted me. But still, I could not quite put my finger on why. So, I have chewed on it for a while and have come to appreciate the wise words of this statement. Anger is a self preserving emotion. It’s function is to protect, defend, and to behold righteousness in truth. Anger is the most base of all human emotions, and in it’s purest form is an effective instrument that drives us to passion, motivation, and even success. Anger is a purging agent that comes in and does it’s job swiftly, and then it is up to us how we will direct the leftover and excess energies of such a potent emotion. Anger is not meant to linger. In fact, even Jesus said not to let the sun go down on your anger. Anger that is left to stew will continue to burn, the embers slowly transforming into a disease, a sickness, if you will. I think most of us are intelligent enough to know when we have crossed the line, been angry over something for too long. When it affects the quality of our lives and interferes with our happiness and peace, we know we have some soul searching and contemplating to do.
I have spent a lot of time being angry in my life, and to this day I still have to pull in on the reins of a fiery disposition. But coupled with love and forgiveness, it is possible to allow our anger to serve a greater purpose for our lives. Anyone who speaks with wisdom and conviction, I assure you, had put a great deal of time in subduing this emotion. They would not settle for a second rate existence of bitterness and resentment. They have creatively found ways to use the life force of anger in different aspects of their lives. We all have this capacity. We are able to be the masters of our anger, monarchs of our indignation. Believe it or not, you can still be angry in a respectful way and not lose your dignity in the process.
I encourage anyone feeling anxiety or depression to look for the root source of these symptoms, and reflect on how it got to be there. I promise you that anger will always be the initial source, coupled with the pain we felt when the emotions were born. Let’s give ourselves a gift, something of lasting value that has the potential to change our lives and impact our world. Seek out forgiveness when you have discovered the triggers. Putting in just a little time to search, discover, reflect and apply in this way will truly bear the sweetest of fruits. We hold the keys to our own happiness and the power to be victorious. To me, that is the most amazing gift of all.
I have previously written a couple of posts that will compliment this message, and aid in advancing to the next steps. For more insight, here are the links:
celestealluvial.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/forgiveness-is-a-process/
http://celestealluvial.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/embracing-pain-a-transformation/
~ Celeste ~
