Rage seems to be all the rage these days. People (like gas stoves) are venting all over the place. Some say it (like the stoves) is creating a toxic environment; others say it’s all hot air.
Where do you fall on the topic of vitriol? Do you have a wolf within? Or two? Or is it a lamb that lurks inside you? How do you deal with your anger?
Here are a couple of takes on keeping the inner and outer wolves at bay.
“When angry, count four. When very angry, swear.” - Mark Twain
A Sufi story:
A monk decided to meditate alone, away from his monastery. He took his boat out to the middle of the lake, moored it there, closed his eyes and began meditating. After a few hours of undisturbed silence, he suddenly felt the bump of another boat colliding with his own.
With his eyes still closed, he felt his anger rising, and by the time he opened his eyes, he was ready to scream at the boatman who had so carelessly disturbed his meditation. But when he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find that it was an empty boat that had struck his own. It had probably gotten untethered and floated to the middle of the lake.
At that moment, the monk had a great realization. He understood that the anger was within him; it merely needed the bump of an external object to provoke it out of him. From then on, whenever he came across someone who irritated him or provoked him to anger, he would remind himself, that the other person was merely an empty boat, the anger was within him.
A different , more modern take:
Peace out. ✌️
I shall share that story again and again. It it utterly perfect for our grumpy world.
Al, I so much appreciate your timely newsletter on the topic of Anger. I loved the Juna Mustad Ted Talk: "Anger reveals boundaries. Anger heals trauma. Anger inspires action." This is so helpful and empowering to me, Thank You. Empty Boat, Yes! Thanks again!