Let Your Rage Flow: Anger as a Mechanism for Progress and Achievement

I have anger management issues. I think we all do. But I really do. This has been a double edged sword for me. It’s gotten me fired from a job back in college days. It’s caused issues with my family and friends.  But it’s also motivated to intense levels of self improvement in the never ending hope of proving myself to the world. 

This anger stems from shame, feeling looked down upon, treated unfairly by people around me which has led to a massive drive that is unending.  A massive chip on my shoulder. And as the excellent & wise investor Josh Wolfe has said:

“Chips on shoulders lead to chips in pockets.”

Boy, does it ever. But it’s a hard journey and takes a high price. 

It reminds me of a very good fantasy fiction book I read recently called the “Bladed Faith” by Dalglish. A master is speaking with his student. 

Master: “Anger is good, it is useful.”

Student: “My mother, she said anger is a fire. And if I let it, it would burn me up and leave me hollow.”

Master: “But she is right. Anger is a fire, it does destroy but it can do so much more. Fire fuels my forges. It melts steel and crafts weapons. I do not want your anger ended. I want it to flare so brightly, it lights the entire island aflame. Do not deny it. Do not hold it back. Let the fire grow. Let it burn.”

In the end it’s a valuable tool but one you need to control and learn to use properly just like you would with a blade or gun. And if you are able to manage it well,  it can be incredibly powerful & motivating. 

Channel the rage you feel inside. Draw on that fury. Use your anger against injustice or unfairness or evil to take action even if you feel it’s hopeless. Use it to do good and right the wrongs you see. Use it to make yourself better. Use it to build something. Use it to accomplish great things that will make the world better. Use it as the tool that it is.