How to release pent up anger

By Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin

“Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.”

― Maya Angelou

The great poetess described the quality of anger very accurately in these few words. It is not a pleasant emotion to experience and can destroy. When channeled and released, it makes room for positivity.

Indeed, anger should be stemmed and channeled to enable positive outcomes.

We keep anger in check by acknowledging our triggers and directing it towards new and positive outcomes. In this sense, it can signal a fresh start borne out of negativity.

What usually makes us angry? Some common triggers are apt to make us lose our cool. When we understand these triggers, we are in a better position to release anger channel it towards better ways.

• Unfairness

• Being ignored

• Name calling and insults directed at oneself or loved ones

• Rumors spread about oneself

• Being shouted at

• Excessive noise

• Bullying, either of self or loved ones

• Being ridiculed

• Losing at a game

• Being wrongly accused

The energy that comes with anger, when redirected and harnessed, can lead to positive outcomes.

Better health

Channeled or released anger can have benefits for health. We all harbor anger and ill-feelings we should not keep within Anger that is not rechanneled or released can put a strain on nervous systems. It can result in headaches and fatigue, causing one to degenerate and age.

Improved relationships with others.

Finding a way to channel anger is important because explosive anger as a result of keeping bottled up emotions causes one to lash out at others. That can potentially spoil relationships with those who are unintended recipients of the verbal torrent of words. These people will not draw closer to you, despite your best intentions.

More positive outcomes in life

Living in negative energy can diminish any positive outcomes in our lives. Anger takes up the space that dreams, aspirations and hopes. We attract what we focus on, we will get more of it. Focusing on anger and negativity only develops more. When we release or channel the anger, we have more space in our subconscious to think about the things we truly want to achieve.

Peace and purpose

Channeling and releasing anger leads to greater peace and purpose. Most of the time, the person we are angry at will be oblivious to it and go on his or her merry way. We forget our own purposes and inner peace and instead focus our energy in wanting to punish the other person. When we have the strength and grace to release that anger, we have greater strength to acknowledge our own mistakes.

Releasing anger provides insight.

When we take a minute to release and look back at our own anger, it provides better insight into ourselves. When we see why we are angry, we become clearer about our own motivations and perhaps. faults.

Release anger to alleviate pain.

Release anger within to free yourself from emotional pain. Anger actually causes emotional hurt and should be channeled. Constantly thinking about negative situations and nurturing angry feelings causes emotional backlash and harm.

Meditation and prayer

Doing this everyday channels anger in a positive way and helps calm the mind. It releases stress and gives you a better outlook on the world.

Sleep

When you get enough sleep, you might wake up without even noticing that you were angry to begin with.

Bend the fingers.

Bend your fingers instead of your whole fist. A clenched fist might motivate one to strike physically, but slightly bent fingers help to release tension.

Another alternative to this is to bend your fingers around a stress ball. Carry it and squeeze it on the bus or in the subway.

Get active

Taking part in outdoor or community activities releases stress and is good for health.

Take slow, deep breaths.

Deep breaths may not have the same effect as prayer or meditation,but do help to calm a person down.

See a therapist.

Where anger regards issues that cannot take a mere thinking through to solve, a therapist needs to be consulted. The therapist can help by identifying triggers and motivations for anger.

Anger management class

More serious issues with anger will require the help of a class to solve. These should be attended in conjunction with therapy sessions in order to be effective.

Have a good laugh.

Find a funny book or video on Youtube and let it induce laughter from you. As they say, laughter is the best medicine for anger.

Count backwards from 100 to 1 very slowly.

The time taken to do this will calm and allow a person to forget about his anger.

Eat something healthy.

Eat wheat biscuits or anything healthy to relieve stress and make oneself feel so much better.

Talk about it.

Talk about the problem with a friend or relative to release pent up negative energy and stress.

Forgive.

Forgiveness, while good for all parties, is even more beneficial for the self. Lashing out at others only results in backlash on ourselves. Release the pent up anger by forgiving others for their mistakes.

An etheree is a short poem that begins with one syllable in its first line and slowly builds to ten in the tenth line. There are therefore 55 syllables in this poem altogether. Here is an etheree I have composed on releasing anger.

Fire

Flame

Purges

Burning ill

Taking away

All negative seeds

Wicked growth that bodes ill

So deeply rooted within

Expunging to give a new start

Burning towards a new beginning

One now covered in pure and shining light.

It is important to release pent up anger to make way for positive outcomes. Doing so regularly helps promote healing, makes one whole and ultimately, one's sense of well-being and happiness.

Original work by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin

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