Anger is one of the commonest human emotions, and one of the most powerful. It's a strong emotion, which, because we are unsure about how to handle it, often produces uncomfortable feelings and images in us. Because of this, we learn to be wary of anger, whether our own or other people's, from an early age.
One of the main theses of this booklet is that there is a positive side to anger. When we start to get angry, we are energising ourselves ready for action, and tapping into a source of great power: our natural 'life-force'. The emotional energy that accompanies feelings of anger can be used for good or evil, either to upset or destroy people around us, or to produce personal or social change.
We cannot choose whether or not to feel our anger; but we can choose what we do with it, and our choice is important. Without the energy produced by anger and the other emotions our continued survival as individuals and communities is at risk. We cannot heal ourselves, our clients or our planet unless we get in touch with all our emotions and use them creatively and joyfully towards humane and growthful ends.
This booklet had its origins some years ago when a group of colleagues who worked in a therapeutic day centre asked me to help them work with some 'angry' clients. I devised and delivered a half-day workshop, and began to write some brief notes on the subject. Many 'Working with Anger' workshops later, the notes have expanded somewhat, and I have decided to present them in more finished form.