If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.
Epictetus
Roman (Greek-born) slave & Stoic philosopher (55 AD - 135 AD)
Anger as soon as fed is dead-
'Tis starving makes it fat.
Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), Poems, Second Series, 1891
Comments?
2007-01-08 22:55:04 · 12 answers · asked by helehelo 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Everyone experiences anger from time to time. It is best to find a creative outlet for anger than it is a destructive outlet or to hold onto it where it transforms into bitterness, rage or depression. There is a big difference between "having" anger and "becoming" anger.
2007-01-09 00:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Comments on Anger by many people should be taken only in a broad sense. It is like reading a Horoscope/astrological prediction! The astrologers divide the world population into just 12 zodiac signs and give prediction but he world has billions of people. Just read the broad indicators. That is it. Anger , for each individual, is unique and has a peculiar origin. Just try getting really angry for anger sake. You CANNOT. Anger just comes. It is by sincerely analysing the origin that one can handle anger. Inferiority complex, Ego, rigid standards, helplessness all are reasons. Catch these at the roots and you have anger under your control..
2007-01-09 09:47:33 · answer #2 · answered by YD 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Holding back anger is the major cause of psychosomatic diseases. This has to do with the over-pumping of blood in some organs and the starving of others.
The mayor cause of anger is "frustration". Certain expressions of anger are harmful to us or considered socially inappropriate and therefore held back. Your organism then instinctively searches for ways of expressing that anger.
Example: You get insulted by your boss at work. Afraid of getting fired, you don't express your anger. When getting home though you burst out on your family for things you'd otherwise not even notice.
So a good way to fight anger and keep healthy would be its expression through something socially acceptable and relatively harmless. For example sports, martial arts, video games exc.
Cursing is actually also a way of applying your anger and in fact acceptable in some areas.
Of course certain theorists (in controversy to Freud's theory) consider anger NOT an embedded part of our organisms. They therefore believe we can live a life of no anger regardless of there being a cause for frustration.
MORE: Anger is really a primitive remnant that induces in your body 'anger-typed adrenaline' (as opposed to 'fear-typed adrenaline' which is of different synthesis). It pumps up bodily functions, increasing strength, stamina & dexterity but significantly hinders mental abillities.
2007-01-09 07:17:07 · answer #3 · answered by Cortu 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with Epictetus. This only because of personal experience.
However both could be true depending on the source / causes of your anger.
For example with Emily Dickinson's words:
If anger is born of frustration, and you are holding your anger in because the circumstances are 'delicate', it could be that you need to vent your anger - there by making it dead. Holding it in only makes it grow.
However, with Epictetus' explanation:
When a person is angry over something, and airs their anger (feeding it), and their anger is justified - it is easy for that person's ego to become dependant up on this new-found 'righteous anger'.
Feeding this type of anger creates a problem understandably. It is better for this type of person to realise that just because they were justifiably angry over something clearly wrong, it does not mean that on every occasion their anger is justified.
So in all - I would agree with both under differing circumstances and the nature of the people involved.
2007-01-09 07:23:21 · answer #4 · answered by Feta Smurf 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
While voilitle at times, anger serves it's purpose. Anger forces change.
America never would have been founded if people weren't angry over how they were treated in Europe.
Martin Luther King Jr., was angry, that's why he did all he did...
Even Jesus got angry, in the temple, when he saw the money changers and merchants defacing his father's temple.
The real problem is when we take our anger and use it to harm others, not to bring about change.
No emotion is wrong. God wouldn't have created it if he didn't want you to use it!!
2007-01-09 07:01:02 · answer #5 · answered by Tiff 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Emily probably has it closer in my opinion. Feeding anger is the only way to end it, but someone who feeds every piece of anger is destined to be an angry and unhappy person. Best to pick your fights I believe.
2007-01-09 06:59:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Such ideas, tips etc may work, but really not needed to make it so complex.
Simply drop anger.
Or, just learn to accept situations that cannot match our expectations. There will be no source of anger !
2007-01-09 08:32:51 · answer #7 · answered by Spiritualseeker 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
fear leads to anger. anger leads to hate. hate leads to the current state of the human condition. perhaps, it would be best to try to discover what causes the fear? and work on that? ;-) (ignorance of the true nature of being human, and our place in the cosmos causes fear).
2007-01-09 14:04:08 · answer #8 · answered by drakke1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anger has it's justifications and uses. It's only when it's out of control and a hindering thing that you should drop it.
2007-01-09 07:03:43 · answer #9 · answered by Benvenuto 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If one lives in unconditional love,having understanding, and being fearless, fear does not arise. Fear is the root of anger, anger is the root of hate, and hate is the root of insanity.
2007-01-09 07:09:10 · answer #10 · answered by Weldon 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋