The Root of Anger

You don’t like being angry, but you experience it. You don’t want to be resentful, but you often are. You don’t seek out being upset, but you get to that point anyway.

It’s certainly possible that the cause of those emotions is something outside of yourself. However, if you dig deeper enough, pride will be at the center of it.

It’s been said that, “Resentment is not getting my way in the past. Anger is not getting my way in the present. And fear is not getting my way in the future.”

Underlying resentment, anger, and fear come from pride.

Years ago, my father-in-law had the courage to tell me that he thought pride was getting in my way. Since my first reaction was that he was wrong, it all but confirmed his observation. However, his words took me on a journey to better understand what pride meant.

It’s best defined as the insistence on my way, my control, my recognition. So pride is not confidence or self-respect. It’s the belief that things must align with your desires, expectations, or ego. When they don’t, the emotions surface.

Today is our day to be less prideful. It begins by practicing humility. Remind yourself that you don’t have all the answers. Do at least one thing today to put others’ needs ahead of your own by thinking of yourself less.

Remember, pride demands my way. Humility frees me to choose a better way.

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