Why Anger Is Good?

Anger is good because it is an emotion all humans experience. Humans evolved to feel anger. You should not feel ashamed to experience this emotion. Oftentimes, it is how anger is expressed that is the issue, not the emotion itself.

Anger can be expressed in many ways. When we feel someone has hurt or wronged us somehow, it is natural to want to express this to the other person. Where many people struggle is expressing their anger through rage-like behavior. They may lash out verbally or even become physically violent.

However, lashing out in anger may feel necessary at the moment to feel better but is often counterproductive. Rage tends to destroy relationships and leave people feeling vulnerable. Also, you can create a negative behavioral pattern if you lash out at others whenever you become angry…you become used to it. 

At the same time, it is not healthy for anyone to repress their anger. Repressing emotions can contribute to all types of mental illness, including depression and anxiety. Repressed anger has been shown to impact the immune system and make people more susceptible to illness. Emotions exist for a reason, and anger can be expressed in ways that help people rather than hinder them.

For instance, altruistic behavior is often the result of witnessing something, perhaps an injustice, which makes them angry and decides to do something about this injustice. By using righteous indignation as fuel to create solutions to an injustice, a positive outcome might come about.

Anger has been shown to increase creativity and athletic performance as well. It has the ability to push people beyond what they thought they were capable of in such endeavors. Anger can be used to focus and concentrate, making it a powerful tool.

So how can one express anger to others in a healthy manner? By telling people, you are feeling it and expressing to them that you may not be in the most rational mindset at that moment. Literally, telling someone: I am angry and having a hard time right now is one of the best ways to express anger healthily to others.