Why are People so Angry?

When I look at the world today, I see anger everywhere, so it begs the question, why are people so angry? Many are looking for simple answers, and we first need to recognize that there are no simple answers to this topic.

Anger can show up in many ways, some subtle, others overt, and in your face, so our actions and reactions are critical to understanding and mitigating the impact.

There can be multiple reasons why people are feeling angry today, some of which may include the following:

1. Political and social divisions: People may feel passionate about various political and social issues, leading to intense disagreement and anger.
2. Economic uncertainty: Job loss, financial insecurity, and rising living costs can increase stress and frustration, leading to anger.
3. Information overload: The constant influx of news and information can be overwhelming and lead to anger, frustration, and helplessness.
4. Historical traumas and inequalities: Many people feel that their communities have faced and continue to face systemic injustices and inequalities, leading to anger and frustration.
5. Personal circumstances: Personal events such as illness, relationship problems, or financial difficulties can cause anger and frustration. Unwarranted paranoia and fear.
6. A desire for power & control: many today deliberately demonstrate anger to intimidate, manipulate, and exert influence over others.
7. Hatred and Shame: These are the two most difficult causes because the triggers can be deep-rooted and draw emotional baggage from any of the other reasons above.

It’s vital to note that anger is a normal and healthy emotion, but it’s critical to channel it productively and healthily. It’s also essential to address the underlying causes of anger rather than simply trying to suppress it. So what can we do the improve our attitudes and deal with anger productively?

• Self- Awareness: understand why you’re angry in the first place. Make conscious choices to improve rather than emotional choices all the time.
• Be Proactive: Look for things in your control that you can change.
• Know your trigger points: Find ways to unlock the positive.
• Get out of your comfort zone: Move the boundaries of your life.
• Turn the tables: Stop anger from demotivating you to changing your perspective.
• Change your mindset: Move from closed to open and focus only on what matters most in your life that can help others grow.
• Do something physical: physical activity will help defuse some of the anger. Exercise, walk, hike, build something, open your curiosity, and expand your horizons.
• Journal: Writing can go a long way to helping defuse and understand anger if you are willing to review it, look for consistent patterns and triggers, and then take action to change for the better.

In summary, while it seems an overwhelming problem in society today, we can turn things around. Being civil and respectful of each other is NOT a weakness but rather a strength that must be embraced to mitigate the power of anger and replace it with something better and more productive.