Does Anger Have a Purpose?
|
Hi Reader, The Dalai Lama teaches that anger is a weakness, and counsels never to act or make a decision when in an angry state. While passionate feelings may inspire great deeds, no good comes from anger. I am generally an agreeable person. Though we all get angry at times. When angry, my natural response is to try and rationalise the situation. But my reasoning is flawed by the negative emotion, and I always, and I mean always, either make things worse or hurt others or myself. So now, when I feel angry, I try to focus all of my energy on nothing but returning to a state of calm. The Dalai Lama says that compassion and patience are the most powerful antidotes to anger. And the two attributes go hand in hand, one making space for the other. So perhaps the only purpose anger has is to show us we need to work on our compassion and patience, for ourselves and others. Today I came across a quote by Bruce Lee which I have found to be most powerful in the pursuit of patience. 'Patience is not passive, on the contrary, it is concentrated strength.'
Bruce Lee
Patience in my opinion is grossly underrated, but if we reframe it to be a strength, and in fact concentrated strength, how much more attractive does it become? It becomes almost a super human power. Perhaps you feel you are patient enough. But can you be patient with yourself? This morning I used the concentrated strength of patience to address a burst of anger. And my goodness did it work. Mindfulness has taught me the immense benefit of being able to focus exclusively on one thing, and by filling my mind with patience for myself, others, and the situation, my anger was eased, almost immediately. As with many teachings, knowing them and doing them are two different things, and practice takes time.... the tool we seldom allow ourselves enough of when trying to learn. Today my efforts worked. It doesn't mean I have mastered a skill. But it is one valuable step. I was given this to share. 'What if the pursuit of patience became your main focus in life? How would that change who you are and what you do?' Focus on the light, always, Natalie Attenborough |
Focus on the Light
Hi Reader, I went home for a few days recently. My family home. My parents still live in the house I grew up in. It is a house filled with memories, and love. The same chair where I sat on my Mums knee as an infant, that I now sit in with my daughter when we visit. The dining room where my family shared Christmas meals after opening gifts. The bedroom I shared with my older sister. Every square inch of the house is crammed with memories. As is the village it is located in. And going there I...
Hi Reader, When I became a parent I was given one piece of advice that I found particularly useful. Never compare your child to others. As a first time parent it can be easy to question your own methods. And by comparing your child to others, conclude you are getting it wrong. But as we know, every child is different. So I chose not to compare mine to others, particularly for significant milestones such as crawling, walking and potty training. And I let my daughter proceed at her own pace....
Hi Reader, As we develop and age, much of our behaviour becomes habitual. The statistics for just how much vary greatly, but at least half of our actions seem to be driven by habit. And the implications of habitual behaviour are greater than you may imagine. As such, it is important to make a conscious effort to foster good habits. A bad habit that seems trivial now could be devastating should your circumstances change. When placed under extreme stress, there is a tendency to rely on...