“Anger is an energy.” – John Lydon (Johnny Rotten)
People are so scared to be angry, especially men nowadays, because anger is specifically deemed as a negative emotion. Does anger necessarily have to be a bad thing though? If I see someone kicking their dog, that would make me angry, and it would also lead to some kind of action. If you see people being hurt, abused, bullied, and you get angry, and you take action, that’s not a bad thing.
It’s very important to know that emotions cause an action, the emotion itself isn’t to be viewed negatively or positively, it is what it is, but the action, what you do in response to that emotion matters.
Ever see that old school Looney Tunes cartoon where steam shoots out of Daffy Duck’s ears when he’s angry? Sure, it’s a comedic exaggeration, but I think our buddy Daffy was onto something. Anger is an energy, just like our punk rock philosopher, John Lydon, said. And energy, my friends, can be harnessed.
You see, emotions are like wild horses. They’re unpredictable, they can give you a nasty kick if you’re not careful, but boy oh boy, can they be powerful. Anger, in particular, is like a stallion that’s been cooped up too long – restless, fiery, and itching to break free. But if we can learn to harness this energy, to guide it rather than suppress it, we’ve got ourselves one hell of a horsepower.
But, here’s the deal. Anger is just anger. It’s our reaction to it that can make all the difference. If we react to anger by kicking the dog (metaphorically speaking, of course – no actual dogs should be harmed in the process), well, then we’re just being a jerk. But if we use that energy to stand up to injustice, to protect those who can’t protect themselves, well, then we’re tapping into the true power of anger.
Let’s not fear anger or treat it like some sort of emotional boogeyman. Instead, let’s respect it, understand it, and learn to use it in a constructive manner. Because if anger is an energy, then it’s up to us to decide how that energy is used. It’s up to us to decide whether we’re going to be a Daffy Duck, blowing steam out of our ears, or whether we’re going to be a stallion, running free and powerful across the plains of life. Choose wisely, my friends.
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