Practising Mindfulness

I see a broken light shade in the entrence hall to the tiny apparment my partner and I rent and think: We’re paying nearly a £1,000 pounds a month for that apparment and that light shade has been like that for months. I then feel angry

I could go on and on with examples of how I manage to make myself feel angry on a daily basis. I feel angry at myself more often than not. I also feel angry at the inconsiderate nature of other human beings. There is a rage inside me that will kill me if I don’t deal with it.

The simplest solution to this problem with my anger is to cease the thinking process. See the broken light shade and think nothing. Make no judgement and have no opinion. Experience inconsiderate behaviour from my fellow humans and make no judgement. Have no thoughts

Is this a solution? Or is there something else I can do? There is something else I can do, and that is to use the energy of anger in a constructive way. I can continue to allow myself to feel angry and then use its energy to drive me. What does it drive me to do? Should I shout and rage at the injustice and inconsideration, I see? No. There is simply no point as it won’t change a thing. It might make me feel slightly better for a short while, but not in the long term. All I’d be doing is fuelling the fire.

I know I have no right to judge, and by the same score, I have no right to become angry. However, if we continue to be indifferent to the world, nothing changes.

Even those who campaign for peace are making a judgement against people who enjoy drama and chaos

Ultimately, the energy of anger must be used in a way that doesn’t provoke anger. The broken light shade in the entrance hall to my building will stay that way until I, or some other tenant, actually complain about it. Being clear with myself, I know that it’s my reticence (fear) that’s causing my anger. If I want anger to dissolve, I must begin to use it constructively.

Contact: philip@practisingmindfulness.co.uk