Another fine thread brought to us by the fabulous mind of Kimmydawn. Thanks, Kimmy, this is a good one.

The only real progress I made with anger was to turn it around sort of backwards from the mainstream popular regard. I heard someone once talking about the idea that anger expressed angrily begets more anger. It was an "aha" moment for me. For myself, that turned out to be true, if I throw rocks, or wreck stuff, all in the name of "releasing" said anger, I end up with more of it coursing impossibly through every cell in my body.

As eye opening as that statement proved to be for me, it was equally uninformative as to just what to "do." Gradually I have come to regard my own anger as secondary to something else. Sadness was one primary feeling which was often expressed as anger. Actually, that was the biggest one for me. Sorrow. Maybe I percieved there to be a greater measure of dignity in expressing anger as opposed to sorrow. Anger seemed safer than sadness. Although, I don't recall being concious of choosing between the two, it was more instinctual.

So, when anger comes roiling to the surface, I want to know what is really wearing that disguise.

To dissipate it, the grass pulling example is good, and the breathing too. Breathing physically counteracts so many triggered situations. Anger is a clench, and breathing denies the clench the strength it needs to pull you along. Back to the grass....it's not the pulling of the grass i suspect but the contact with it. My anger dissipates for allowing tree branches to brush me as I walk beneath them. Immersing in water, same thing. Weeding a garden, moving dirt with my hands. It is like running a ground wire from my shorted out mind, into the ground, and letting the charge be absorbed there. Because my anger is secondary to something else, my concious mind is of little use in sorting it out. It isn't rational and doesn't respond to reason.

Not a sermon, but perhaps a contrasting view that shines a little light somewhere for someone? Hope so.