Using Anger as Fuel: Warrior Mind Podcast #464

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In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to discuss how anger can be used to fuel our success and performance.  

Using Anger as Fuel

1) Use anger to flush out repressed emotions. Angry feelings are unpleasant. They make us feel lousy. So, we sometimes bury them inside and pretend nothing is wrong. But like damp socks left in the closet, repressed emotions have a tendency to start smelling. They will also limit your effectiveness as a lawyer by sapping your energy and stifling your creativity.

Turn anger into a plus by using it to purge repressed emotions.

“Repressed truth becomes polluted truth, meaning it has the stench of something that has gone past its due-date,” writes artist and self-styled shaman Laura Hollick. “Anger teaches us to address our true thoughts and feelings as they arise, so they don’t reach this point of fermentation.”

2) Use anger to reveal your weak spots. Some people just know how to push our buttons. They are good at exploiting weaknesses. Rather than lashing out, try using these opportunities to identify vulnerabilities. How can we strengthen our personal defenses?

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3) Use anger to move out of complacency. Often anger is a call to action. You feel stuck. You are sick and tired of the status quo. Use anger as the engine to stir things up in your life.

4) Use anger as motivation. Anger can be an empowering force. It need not burn you up – it can light your path.  A team of Harvard researchers found that anger motivates people to take control of their lives.

Hollick advises to listen to what your anger might be telling you, but don’t let it guide your actions. “Speak our truth, let ourselves feel what we’re feeling,” she writes. “When you own your power, you have befriended anger in mutual respect and appreciation.”

5) Use anger to identify other anger. Anger is contagious. It affects others who are near its presence. This is so even if the anger is not expressed. A fascinating series of brain studies have shown that when a person is feeling irate or vengeful, the bad vibe ripples out to those around them – even if the feelings are not displayed in any visible way. If you are having difficulty connecting with someone, try identifying whether anger is present in either of you. Then you can take steps to defuse the negativity and start building a more constructive relationship.

Learning to harness your anger will also prolong your career. It is well documented that frustration, irritation and stress trigger the brain to release chemicals that cause high blood pressure, ulcers, heart disease and a weakened immune system. Over time your body wears out.

What situations during your workday make you angry? How do you deal with it?

Source: https://www.lawyersmutualnc.com/blog/5-ways-to-turn-your-anger-into-an-advantage

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