Anger and Power

Anger and Power

Everyone needs to feel powerful since true power is an essential part of our soul nature and therefore an essential characteristic of who we are. Power is the energy that emanates from our life purpose – the reason we exist. When we feel powerless we feel that our life is purposeless and meaningless. We then often feel weak, victimized or defeated. Anger then typically follows. Sometimes that anger is introverted and we feel sad or depressed, or it is outwardly directed through some type of aggression, violence or rebellion.

Much of the destruction and conflict we see happening in the world today is a direct result of people feeling disempowered and victimized by others. This includes majority populations in countries where a very small minority controls most of the country’s wealth – a very common situation. It also includes most of the Islamic world which has been gradually diminished in political and economic influence ever since the 17th century. And, among many other examples, it also includes minority ethnic and religious groups that are kept out of political or economic positions of power such as exists in Iraq today.

As more and more wealth is controlled by fewer people, the gap between rich and poor gets larger, the feeling of powerlessness increases, and anger that gets expressed through some form of aggression dramatically increases. We might feel helpless in such a huge world problem, not seeing anything we can do about it.

But there is something we can do to address the issue of power in life. We need to begin with ourselves in our everyday life, and from there let the positive changes we make have an effect on others until eventually the quantum leap of transformation occurs. This is the only way human consciousness really ever changes.

The most common cause of anger is the absence or loss of love. But anger also arises when we feel a lack of power. When this is the case we might try to get power by having power over another through the force of emotions, words or actions that accompany anger. Of course this is not power, but force, which is a false type of power. In fact, forcefulness is a sign of weakness in someone who is trying to be powerful.

There is very little understanding of what constitutes true power. Almost everyone equates it with force, aggression, assertiveness, dominance and the like. Power is none of these. These are all signs of a lack of power.

A powerful person is one who is self-confident, authentic, gentle, non-imposing, supportive of others and not defensive. A powerful person acknowledges that he or she is in charge of their own life and therefore follows their own inner authority of the heart and soul within.

Anger can arise from, or be supported by, a feeling of being trapped or confined and limited by oneself or one’s circumstances. There is a feeling of powerlessness when self-expression is felt to be insufficient or thwarted. This anger is usually accompanied by feelings of low self-esteem and inadequacy. There can also be much frustration due to perceived lack of ability or opportunity.

When a person becomes injured, ill or handicapped in some way they often become angry because of the limitations experienced. It is also felt by many people when they retire. The anger then often takes the form of depression. Anger can arise even when the limitation is only in relation to expectations that cannot be fulfilled.

The antidote is obviously going to be something that empowers and thereby removes the feelings of inadequacy that support the anger. Taking inventory of one’s talents, skills, and abilities is all important toward that end. Also, exploring new areas of interest to pursue needs to be encouraged. Usually a person in this situation has not expanded into new areas – the unknown – for some time, and the challenge at this time is to do just that. Powerlessness is always a sign of the need to expand one’s experiences and boundaries.

The most effective personal embrace of the true source of power within, the soul, is to empower others in some type of service that responds to genuine needs that others have. This kind of selfless giving aligns personality and soul, increases personal power, and develops a greater sense of fulfillment and purpose.

The source or seat of your power is your soul identity. You are most powerful when you are identified with your soul purpose and are expressing it. You are then making a contribution and fulfilling your purpose. In this way you always empower others.

Exercises:

1. Think of a person or persons you can empower and decide how you will do that.

2. Examine your own feelings, words and actions that are forceful or aggressive. See them as a search for your own power rather than as a reaction to your relationships and situation in life.

3. Reflect and meditate on your life purpose or contribution to life. This is your power. Embrace it


By Soul Journey