5 Dos & Don’ts of Working with Anger

Anger is one of the tougher emotions. It can burn in us and we can either hold it back and suppress it or spill it—often with unwanted consequences for ourselves and others.

So many things piss us off . . . and no matter who we are, we all can experience anger. Here are 5 dos and don’ts that help us work with anger more skilfully

Don’t

1. Act out
2. Stop breathing
3. Go numb
4. Dissociate
5. Run away

Do

1. Feel the anger in the body. Get curious about where you feel it in the body.
2. Stay with it. Ride the feelings of anger like surfing a wave.
3. Breathe into the belly. Take a big breath, then another. Relax.
4. Feel your feet on the ground, really feel them. If you’re driving, feel your hands on the steering wheel.
5. Relax; feel; breathe.