I’ve been trying to deal with some deep-seated anger the past 24 hours. It’s been building, I suppose. Unfortunately I took it out on someone I love. Isn’t that always the way?
This is one of those imperfections that doesn’t have to be. I know it’s human to lash out at those closest to us. Yet I see it as an excuse for bad behavior. I don’t like being on the receiving end, so why expect people I care about to put up with it from me?
Bottom line, I can’t take it back. So my best move is to make sure I feel the anger and then channel the energy into something positive and constructive. That’s where I am as I write this. Julia Cameron wrote with flair on this topic in The Artist’s Way:
Sloth, apathy and despair are the enemy. Anger is not. Anger is our friend. Not a nice friend. Not a gentle friend. But a very, very loyal friend. It will always tell us when we have been betrayed. It will always tell us when we have betrayed ourselves. It will always tell us that it is time to act in our own best interests.
Anger is not the action itself. It is action’s invitation.
Invitation accepted.
