Anger is one of our strongest emotions; as women we are often taught to suppress it but channelled anger can be a great force for good. For example, where would we be in the world if a group of women hadn’t got angry about not having the right to vote? Talking about it and letting off steam is OK some of the time, (and can be very therapeutic), but unless we actually do something nothing changes.

What Makes YOU Angry?

Just think for a moment about the last time that you got angry. What provoked it? Sometimes our anger is intensified because of our feelings of helplessness about what is happening; we feel we have no control. Try writing a list of all the things that make you angry. How many of them might you use as a source of energy, to get you motivated to do something that helps you, rather than drains you?

Get Control

One technique for managing your anger is to take back some control and direct the energy it gives you toward a positive goal. For example, if you are incensed by global warming join an organisation that is actively working towards doing something about it.

Or, maybe there are issues in your workplace that regularly have you metaphorically tearing your hair out. Have you considered what you can actually do about it? Perhaps there is a specific training need, like an assertiveness course, which will help. Or maybe you need to get some likeminded people together and assertively ask for a meeting to discuss solutions to the problem.

Whatever makes you angry, step one is recognising it, and then you can make a choice about how to deal with it!

How do you make anger work for you? When was the last time you got really angry? What did you do with that feeling? I’d love to hear your thoughts!