Waking up to a world in this much pain can cause even the strongest among us to want to pull the covers back over our heads or make a mad dash for the safety of the hills. Some days the news of the plight of our fellow humans is almost unbearable. It devastates us. It breaks our hearts.
It makes us angry.
I’m currently reading Brené Brown’s book, “Braving The Wilderness, The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone.” It is simultaneously poking me in all the uncomfortable places, while giving me a sense of being completely understood and seen. It intrigues me to the core, in my tireless work for connection and community between women, because she gets right to the core of the lines that divide and isolate us.
As much as we think it’s anger, it’s really pain.
“Most of us were not taught how to recognize pain, name it, and be with it. Our families and culture believed that the vulnerability it takes to acknowledge pain was weakness, so we were taught anger, rage and denial instead. But what we know now is that when we deny our emotion, it owns us. When we own our emotion, we can rebuild and find our way through the pain. . . . Either way, anger is a powerful catalyst, but a life-sucking companion.” ~ Brené Brown, Braving The Wilderness
I invite you to take a look at any anger you’re feeling today.
I mean a really close look. What has you fired up? Is it politics? Is it your marriage? A friendship? Your child’s behavior? Where’s the pain for you? What’s the fear? What’s the hurt that’s driving the anger?
If you’re willing to own it, you can find your way through the pain.
You can allow the anger you feel to be a powerful catalyst. Or, face the devastating consequences of having anger as a life-sucking companion.
“At any given moment, we have two options: To step forward into growth or step back into safety.” ~ Abraham Maslow
Which one will you choose?
to more love,
Crystal
