The emotion of anger arises within our relationships with others. For this reason, it is incredibly difficult to let it go. However, severing our connection to anger is truly essential.
When we are angry, we often experience a strange sense of excitement or even pleasure. We might feel as though we are venting our frustration. But make no mistake: it is not a supplement to sustain you; it is a “poison.”
Anger always has an object. We feel it toward someone or something. But what we must realize is that before our anger ever reaches its target, it strikes us first—and most intensely.
Angry words are always born within you. The emotion surges, you shape it into words in your mind, you speak them aloud, and your own ears hear that voice. What reaches the other person is merely the fleeting “sound” of your words. But you, however, must endure the full weight of the emotion through your mind, your mouth, and your ears. The damage accumulates within you many times faster than it reaches anyone else. This is likely why scolding someone often feels more exhausting than being scolded.
This is precisely why cutting off anger is so important. Anger is an incredibly powerful force, like a sharp blade. It doesn’t just hurt others; more than that, it deeply wounds you.