Getting Out of the Outrage

[salixj]

Something has made you mad. In fact you are boiling. You have so much anger in you that you don't know what to do. 

What was it that outraged you in the last few days, and did you learn anything that would suggest the initial reports weren't true, or there wasn't as bad, or that more information was needed?

1. If the original information proves untrue ask yourself: Are you still outraged? Why?

Quite possibly you are still angry, despite now knowing the truth. We have a tendency to not want to let go of that original anger. We spent too much emotional energy on it, and now to just step back and say "ooops, looks like I was wrong!" is hard to do. It is natural to want to continue to hold onto that anger, to find something, anything, that would justify that outrage. We don't like having been fooled, and we do not like "wasting" our emotional investment. All that energy, for what? A lie? A misunderstanding? NO!!!! 

It is natural to feel these things, it is also unhealthy. 

It is okay that you were fooled, that doesn't mean you are a fool. You were deceived because you trusted. It is okay. 

Now let the anger go. Forgive yourself for the emotional waste (I will show you how not to become outraged in another post).

Write down what outraged you, why it outraged you, and how you learned you were misled. Talk about how this rage has left you feeling, drained, used, confused, angry still, wanting your initial outrage to be true. Write down the words of forgiveness for the emotional waste of energy. Write down what you have learned to be true. Does the truth bother you in any way? Is there anything that makes you angry with the truth itself? What is it and why are you feeling that way about the truth?

2. Now, suppose that the original outrage was justified. Or suppose that the truth is making you outraged. "I was lied to, misled! And this new truth is just as bad, worse than the old truth". 

Why are you angry? What about the truth has you enraged. And, more importantly, what can you do about it? What steps can you take to correct the wrong or modify the wrong, whatever it is? How can you be a positive force?

To do that you need to release the anger, it was a spark, a flame, to get you moving. You are moving now. In what direction? Why? How will it help? Do your actions help eliminate something that is evil and wrong? Do they bring peace, joy, harmony?

Carefully consider what you are going to do, and why you are going to do it. Write down the steps. Ask yourself questions about how you will precede, what problems you may face, how to avoid those problems and how to work around any issues that may come up.

Use your anger, don't be used by it.