Anger

Anger is a strong emotion triggered by a gap between one’s expectations and the reality of one’s circumstances. Unlike mere frustration, there is usually an element of perceived unfairness, or an unwillingness to accept the circumstances as reasonable or right. Because most of us experience physiological effects of anger—such as an increased heart rate or surge of adrenaline—it suddenly becomes easier to behave in ways we normally wouldn’t, such as raising our voices, slamming doors, or provoking others into a confrontation. Because of this tendency, anger is often labeled as a “bad” or “negative” emotion, but the truth is, emotions are neither good nor bad—they’re just feelings, and trying to deny or suppress any feeling is harmful to our well-being. When handled intentionally, anger can be a source of positive energy and a force for constructive action and change.