Week 3, Day 1 of The Artist's Way
Today, let's listen to our anger to better understand where we have betrayed ourselves.
ANGER
Anger is fuel.
We feel it and want to do something. Hit someone, break something, throw a fit, smash a fist into the wall, tell those bastards. But we are nice people, and what we do with our anger is stuff it, deny it, bury it, block it, hide it, lie about it, medicate it, muffle it, ignore it. We do everything but listen to it.
Anger is meant to be listened to.
Anger is a voice, a shout, a plea, a demand. Anger is meant to be respected. Why? Because anger is a map. Anger shows us what our boundaries are. Anger shows us where we want to go. It lets us see where we've been and let us know when we haven't liked it. Anger points the way, not just the finger. In the recovery of a blocked artist, anger is a health sign.
Anger is meant to be acted upon. It is not meant to be acted out.
Anger points that direction. We are meant to use anger as fuel to take the actions we need to move where our anger points us. With a little thought, we can usually translate the message that her anger is sending us.
When we feel anger we are often very angry that we feel anger. Damn anger! It tells us that we can't get away with our old life any longer. It tells us that our old life is dying. It tells us that we are being reborn, and birthing hurts. The hurt makes us angry.
Anger is the firestorm that signals the death of our old life.
Anger is the fuel that propels us into our new one. Anger is a tool, not a master. Anger is meant to be tapped into and drawn upon. Use properly, anger is use-full.
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 action itself. It is action's invitation.
(The Artist's Way, 2016, p. 61 – 62)
Anger is a loyal friend that shows me where I am being invited to grow.
⬇️ download printable affirmation card
Describe five traits you like in yourself as a child.
“I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.”
– Duke Ellington
What is one healthy way you can tap into and draw upon your anger today?
We'd love to hear in the comments below👇
To really be with my anger and discover how it’s inviting me to grow takes courage! Acting on anger in a way that is fruitful is quite a mindful and creative endeavor. I give myself endless forgiveness and permission to practice this. Noticing what is at the root of my anger is essential for nurturing myself in healthy ways that I expect will naturally appease and dissipate my anger parts.