We hate to have it directed against us. It has the power to frighten, and we often feel diminished by its sting. Feeling the wrath of another can be a blow to self esteem. It can take time to piece together an ego shattered by anger.
Our own anger is equally powerful. We feel it build within us until it bursts like a bomb on the target of our ire. Sometimes our anger stirs us to the point where everything we come in contact with feels our frenzied energy. If we cling to our anger for too long it starts to draw towards us similar energy, like annoyed drivers, angry, whining people, or unpleasant experiences. We lock our keys in the car or spill our coffee. We get angrier. It can be satisfying to let our anger out, but that has consequences.
In Aikido we're taught that an attacker attacks because they are out of balance. We, too, are out of balance when our anger causes us to attack another, kick a chair that got in the way, or get down on ourselves. We're not perfect, we're human, we get angry; but being out of balance is one of the quickest ways to fall down. Remembering that can often be helpful in restoring ourselves to a more comfortable frame of mind.
Be angry, let it out, and let it go.
Breath.
