Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were./, do you agree?

Question

When you feel "dog tired" at night, it may be because you growled all day./~~Ive been noticing a lot of confrontations on the board lately~~~Speak when you are angry--and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret/
and my favorite
Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody's power, that is not easy.
- Aristotle

Answer 1

Anger and forgiveness aren't always what they're cut out to be. Some anger is just reactionary anger, and not as the Aristotle quote you cited. That anger is excellent, and can, with practice, and without fear of anger, be extremely useful. But then anger often means a loss of some self control, which makes Aristotle's definition almost "not" anger, but forceful utilitarianism. Forgiveness, and I mean true, deep forgiveness, is wonderful and does make you grow larger, like the time the late Pope John Paul II forgave the middleastern assassin who tried to kill him. But some of the "forgiving" that I just read moments ago in response to another question here on Yahoo Answers sounded a bit trite and whimiscal, over something not anywhere personal or threatening, and therefore, to me, not worth the breath, or typing, it took to say "your forgiven". I can tell you, from personal experience, that for me to forgive my ex-wife for running away back to her mommy with our two kids, and divorcing me and making it that I only got "visitation" with my kids instead of raising them, has been a lifelong struggle for me, and I sometimes forgive her and feel good, and then feel angry or mad and emotionally and mentally come down onto her, in my mind only, and am extremely non-forgiving, and yet still feel I'm in the right. So, to say one is bad and the other is good may be just a bit too simple. Or maybe it's too complicated and too high a thing for me to understand all the time, so, I have to pray and beg Jesus our Christ to help me forgive, because without Him, I can't always do it. Thanks for your question. The challenge it offered me to address my angers and abitilities or inabilities to forgive, has made me grow a bit. I'm still no where near perfect at it, nor even 50-50 at it, but, your question brought me one step closer to getting it done right, and for that, I thank you. God Bless you.

Answer 2

I've had a long day and my dogs are tired. I did not growl, I did not bite. In my eyes, anger is an emotion when well used can be beneficial both for you and the person it's directed at. Therefore it must be confronted in a way that does not incite hate or hard feelings. The words "back off" come into play here.
Forgiveness on the other hand is to will the heart to acceptance.
When I see confrontation on the board, the woman in me has to go see what's going on. I accept that. If it's a question that touches my anger, I answer from that level
Easily, I can become angry, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not easy.
And my favorite, Live and let live.

Answer 3

Righteous anger is a good thing, but most of our anger is anything but righteous Forgiveness is unnatural; it goes against our instincts. But forgiveness can break a cycle of hatred. There are grudges and hatred that are carried from generation to generation.

Forgiveness wipes the slate clean. You not only will grow beyond what you were, but the people involved in your forgiveness may grow as well--starting a whole new cycle of love and grace.

Answer 4

I don't necessarily agree that anger makes one smaller, but weaker maybe. Forgiveness definitely helps one to grow and promotes a "healing boomerang effect" for all involved.
Anger is the biggest weakness in my life, for i found that in the medical profession, i am not always as in control as i thought possible. Inside anger consumes, tearing through like an electrical current trying to find the reasoning................. cure.

Answer 5

But you know
If you are talking about phisical terms, I would say "NO" because when you get angry it makes you bigger: your body is flying in the space where there is no any boundary and your head is growing gigantically. But if you were talking in sense of moral or virtaul, I would say "YES" because it makes you really a HIRO not only in HOllywood but also in BUSHywood.
Bushiwood means BUSH the MOst powerful person in the world.

Answer 6

I don't know if forgiveness let's you grow, but I think tolerance may. But, honestly, I think it is incredibly naive to forgive or tolerate someone who doesn't care about who they hurt. If they truly are sorry for something they did, then forgiveness is divine. Tolerance is meant for those people who do not know any better, or have a different belief system. Tolerance enables us to teach and learn other points of view.

Answer 7

I think it's good to get emotions out, just not in a negative way.....when you're angry, don't say hurtful things....try a punching bag or a few sit ups, you'll feel so much better after that, I promise!

Answer 8

Anger is an important driving factor in our lives. We need a little outrage from time to time.

But you're right: Forgiving makes you stronger. And it helps you temper your temper!

Answer 9

Agree.

Answer 10

Hatred and anger are like acid.
They do more damage to the
vessel in which they are stored
than the object on which they are poured.

That just about sums it up. So I'd agree with you.