“Just for today, I will not anger.” ~ Mikao Usui
The quote from Mikao Usui, founder of Reiki, comes from his well known poem titled Just For Today. I love this line because its deceptively simple. We are not being asked to be perfect. We are being asked to look at how we process conflicted emotions.
Anger is one of the most human emotions we can experience. It's a signpost, pointing to something deeper that needs our attention.
It's almost inevitable that at some point you will become angered by something, but what do you do with that anger? Do you stuff it somewhere in your body and pretend it doesn’t exist? Do you let it stew until it erupts like a volcano, scorching everything within a 100 mile radius? Or do you see it for what it is, following that anger to its (possibly) multiple roots and diffusing the anger by healing the real conflict?
So often, our minds are like fish tanks with thoughts like hungry fish darting around, threatening to swallow each other whole. We spend our days preoccupied and distracted, and we don’t take care of our “fish tanks” so our thoughts become unruly and even blinding.
By taking time to look at what’s happening within our minds, by naming the feelings and truths in that fish tank, we can begin a process of healing and empowerment. All anger, wherever it is within us, needs to be acknowledged.
Anger, like any other emotion, is a signal—not an enemy. By listening to it, rather than suppressing or ignoring it, we can uncover deeper truths about what we need, what boundaries may have been crossed, or where healing is asking to take place.
If you’ve ever hung out with me if the office for more that 10 minutes, you’ve probably heard me ask you to “acknowledge, honor, and release.” I say this a lot!
Anger is tricky because sometimes it can be very hard to acknowledge. Our egos play games with us. We rationalize that we have “no reason to feel angry” when our body is telling us otherwise. This disconnect between what we think we "should" feel and what we actually experience creates inner tension, making it even harder to face the truth of our emotions.
Other times, we recognize our anger, but self-righteousness takes over, convincing us that being "right" is more important than understanding what lies beneath the surface. This can stop us from digging deeper and uncovering the true root of our feelings. Yet, by choosing compassion and looking at a situation with an open heart, we allow ourselves to discover other perspectives—perspectives that might challenge us to take a different kind of responsibility, one that leads to healing rather than blame.
Just for today, look at how you process anger. Look at what makes you angry. If you journal, write down the last 3 times you were angry, and what your relationship to that anger was.
Let's break this down. First choose something you were angry about. Then journal:
What happened?
How did I respond?
What was the underlying feeling or unmet need behind my anger?
What could I do differently next time?
When you became angry, you generated a great deal of energy—a force that demanded direction. Perhaps it is still spiraling within you, searching for release, or maybe it was unleashed in the heat of the moment, directed outward at someone else.
But consider this: what if that same energy, when met with compassion and understanding, could be transformed into a process of healing? What if, instead of depleting you, it could leave you feeling lighter, stronger, and more invigorated? Anger holds power, and with mindful transmutation and release, it can become a catalyst for profound growth.
Imagine if, for one day, you notice where you are irritated or angry, and instead use each opportunity to anger, as an opportunity to choose clear communication and boundary setting, forgiveness, love, humor, or compassion for yourself and others. By transforming these moments, you not only reclaim your energy but also create peace in the world around you.
I hope you've enjoyed these reflections on anger. If you love this, come join our classes and meditations!
~Dailey
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