Anger or Caring?

Most people wish to avoid situations that lead to anger.  Yet, it is inevitable that one gets angry or does something that causes anger in someone else.  Anger is almost always a surface emotion that results from deeper emotions and very often comes from having a strong desire for something, often from another person.  When that desire is not met, a person may feel grief, loneliness, abandonment, and/or the sense of not being valued.  Yet, these emotions often manifest outwardly as anger.  Sometimes anger stems purely from one’s own foolishness or unrealistic expectations.   When two people are working through anger, it is often difficult to remember that anger almost always stems from caring – if someone did not care, they would likely act in indifference, apathy, or ignore the issue, perhaps even breaking contact.  Remembering that caring is one of the root feeling will help both individuals work together to expose the root emotions or unmet need, help lead to a resolution, and ultimately strengthen the relationship.

Stock photo from Morguefile