Meditation

When people begin to meditate, they often say that their thoughts are running riot and have become wilder than ever before. But I reassure them and say that this is a good sign. Far from meaning that your thoughts have become wilder, it shows that you have become quieter and are finally aware of just how noisy your thoughts have always been. Don’t be disheartened or give up. Whatever arises, just keep being present, keep returning to the breath, even in the midst of all the confusion.    ---Rigpa

Anger and Exercise

Anger and Exercise

Anger is often the result of frustration and anxiety that gets redirected toward others. According to psychologist Kelly Wilson in her book "Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong," hundreds of studies have demonstrated that exercise reduces anxiety. Exercise also reduces anger that is the result of frustration or anger management difficulties by burning off excess energy and releasing powerful endorphins that can help improve your mood. Exercise also reduces blood pressure. High blood pressure can make you feel angry, and may also be the consequence of excessive anger.   -Brenna Davis

Thich Nhat Nahn - Mindfulness in anger and suffering part 1/2 (audiobook...

How to release anger...

Is there someone in your life who is REALLY getting on your nerves? Are ready to explode at them? Before you do, here's an anger release technique I've been using for over 15 years. The power of it never ceases to amaze me. It works.

Things You'll Need

·         Pen, Paper, Quiet Time

Instructions

o    1

Find a quiet spot, get pen and writing paper. Don't skimp on size or quantity-you don't want to run out of paper and you DO want a large enough writing surface on which to vent.

o    2

Set a timer for ten minutes or place your watch nearby. Begin writing-pour your wrath, your frustration, your bile about this person onto the page. DO NOT STOP YOUR HAND, DO NOT STOP TO THINK-these are the keys to this exercise. Then when the time is up, put away the anger-soaked pages. Go about your day, no need to explain what you just did.

o    3

Day Two: Find your quiet place again, get out the pages your wrote the day before and read the entire thing, word-for-word. Set your timer again and go for another ten minutes. Same thing, keep that hand moving with no stopping. Then put the pages away again.

o    4

Day Three: Read over the previous pages and then one last time, write like crazy for ten minutes. Put it all away.

o    5

Day Four: Read the entire piece and then find a place where you can SAFELY burn it. As it burns, envision your rage being released. As the smoke billows away, let your anger go with it.

o    6

Now with a clear head and your bags emptied of rage, you can have a talk with the person. If it's still needed. I've had the experience of not even needing to talk, having realized all of the issues were mine. But if there are things to discuss, at least you can talk about them knowing what's your stuff and what is the other person's.

Read more: How to Do an Anger Release | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2016223_do-anger-release.html#ixzz2I3nAENHR

Releasing Anger

If you give yourself permission to feel and release your anger in a way that doesn’t hurt yourself or others, you’ll have much more life force and energy available for love, creativity, and joy. It’s helpful to actually write out your responses in a journal or on a piece of paper.

Step 1: Get in touch with your anger. Witness your agitated internal dialog or mind chatter and feel the sensations in your body. This very act will allow your feelings to fade. Suppressing or pushing down your anger, on the other hand, simply causes you resentment to grow.

Step 2: Identify the nature of your anger. Who are you angry with? A friend? A spouse or other family member? A co-worker? People are often angry at God for the tragedy, illnesses, and deaths that happen in the world. Or you might be angry at yourself for something you’ve done―or for not doing something you think you should have.

Step 3: Now ask yourself: “What am I anxious or fearful about that causes me to react in anger? What need do I have that isn’t being met and is causing me to feel fearful and angry? How might I act to fulfill that need? (If you’d like to learn effective communication skills for requesting what you need, we recommend Marshall Rosenberg’s book Nonviolent Communication.

Step 4: Take some action to express and release the anger: throw stones at the ocean, use a plastic bat to pound a pillow, dance in a screaming frenzy. Physical activity is an extremely powerful way to let go of anger and stress, and we encourage you to find a regular physical outlet, such as swimming, dancing, yoga, cycling, or even just brisk walking.   

-----Deepak Chopra,  Anger Release Center

An REBT/CBT perspective on the cause of emotional problems, including a...

Dealing with Anger

Video & Audio | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Unhealthy Anger

Sometimes when I get angry I am not aware of why?  Anger sneaks up on me and comes out in ways that harm those I love.  After, I follow it home and examine where it came from and why it lived so loud.  Jack Kornfield has some wonderful words which offer clarity in regard to where our anger comes from.  TJS.

"Like pain, fear is the other common predecessor to anger and hate---fear and loss, of hurt, of embarrassment, of shame, of weakness, of not knowing.  When fear arises, anger and aversion function as strategies to help us feel safe, to declare our strength and security.  In fact, we actually feel insecure and vulnerable, but we cover this fear and vulnerability with anger and aggression.  "   ---Jack Kornfield, The Wise Heart

Seeing good...

Someone asked me the other day if I get sick of working with people with problems.  'Don't you get sick of needy, broken people?'  No never.  Whether you work in a jail with criminals, a hospital with the sick, a food bank or a half way house you have something in common with them.  We are all broken.  We have cracks from the hurt we have caused, the bitter words we have spoken or the anger we harmed others with.  We are all broken.  

The Dalai Lama was once asked to sum up his religion.  He responded quickly, 'my religion is kindness.'  It's a position I always want to work from.  No matter what.   TJS 

Why I'm pissed off?

"I am pissed off constantly because I was always picked on as a kid even though it has stopped I am still angry and I am stuck in this little village. I usually take out my anger on other people which makes me even more angry cause it makes me feel like an asshole for beating down someone for nothing. Like the people who did it to me, but now I wanna stop cause it ain't doing nothing good for me or them just making us all pissed off. So I am talking to Todd and hopefully get this anger out of me and maybe leave this town for a bit. Hopefully I will stop this anger cause I'm tired of being the one picking on other people." ---Darcy

Dead Bodies

I hate people who abuse power, who flaunt authority to hinder progress. Those ugly people who work for harm or belittlement, who take joy in others failures. I despise those who are dishonest for gain or plan the downfall of others. And tonight more than ever I hate dead bodies and those who cause them. Halloween in Saskatchewan brought two murders. A dead body with a grieving family and friends. I happen to be on a clinical contract in the same place as one of them. A few hundred yards away a drunken something caused knives to rip and gash. A dead body. A spirit, a friend, a son, a lover, a young man; gone because all of us forget what really matters. To live and love. To be kind and gentle and to watch for each others dignity and to give when we do not want to. I rode my bike past the scene. The crisp wind sent a shiver down my back. I couldn't stop the tears. Two lives; one dead and one in jail. What a fucking waste. TJS