How to Productively Express Your Anger

With all that’s going on in the world today, from a pandemic to political ineptitude and repression, it’s easy to see why much of the country has descended into rioting and violence. Many of us are at the end of our rope. We’re angry, frustrated, and desperately wanting change. Yet, channeling our anger in a way that is destructive to property or violent towards people does not help the situation. Instead, we need a safe way to handle our anger. From an emotionally balanced and clear-headed place, we can more easily see what we need to do to effect positive change in our world.

So, what is a healthy way to express one’s anger? Think of how infants react when they get angry. Typically, they get very upset, scream or cry for a while, then quickly return to a state of contentment. Instead of holding-in their feelings, they fully let them out. Once all their anger has been expressed, they feel calm and at peace once again. Unfortunately, adults have been conditioned to repress their feelings of anger and upset. Yet, like steam escaping from a heated pressure cooker, our anger and resentment eventually either leaks out — or explodes out in detrimental ways.

As adults, we’ve been taught that it’s not appropriate to “blow-up” or have a “temper tantrum.” Yet, carrying anger around for hours or even weeks on end is not a good solution either. What we need is a safe way to fully release…