let’s talk anger
Anger is one of those emotions that carries a bad reputation, and in some ways, that reputation is earned. It is a very high-energy emotion. It places a significant demand on the body physically, mentally, emotionally, and energetically. Prolonged anger can be exhausting. It can burn through our life force.
And yet, anger is not the villain we often make it out to be.
There is value in anger, something I’ve come to understand more deeply through personal experience and through years of working with others. Anger has the power to propel. It can move us forward when we’ve been stuck. It can help us speak when our quieter attempts at communication have gone unheard. It can draw a clear boundary where cooperation or kindness has repeatedly failed.
Anger is especially familiar to those who have had to fight, to survive, to reclaim themselves, to protect what matters. There is a warrior quality to anger. In the right dose, at the right moment, it can be clarifying and mobilizing.
Where anger becomes problematic is not in its existence, but in how it is held.
When anger is repressed, its fiery energy turns inward. Instead of being expressed outwardly through action, voice, or boundary, it becomes internalized. Over time, this can create significant disruption in the body. People often describe sensations of excess heat, pressure, tension, or inflammation. But the impact isn’t only physical. Repressed anger can create chaos emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually.
On the other hand, sustained anger, even when expressed, can be just as damaging. Because anger is so energetically taxing, living in it for long periods can lead to bitterness, stagnation, and a loss of vitality. The very force that once helped you move forward can begin to drain your zest for life.
Anger, much like stress, is meant to be experienced in short bursts. It alerts us that something is wrong. It signals that a boundary needs to be set. It gives us the energy to change course when gentler signals haven’t worked. But it is not meant to be a long-term residence.
When anger is understood, contained, and directed, it transforms. It becomes fuel rather than fire. It becomes the engine rather than the explosion. Used consciously, anger can be powerful, purposeful, and even beautiful.
In my experience, both personally and professionally, sitting in anger leads to bitterness. But learning to work with it? That’s where transformation happens.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if anger feels challenging, confusing, or burdened with shame or bad associations, know that this is something I work with often. My approach is not about suppressing anger, nor about staying stuck in it, but about learning how to release it, contain it, and use it in a focused, intentional way.
Anger has something to teach us—if we’re willing to listen.