June 9, 2009SpeakStrong reader question: Anger journal?

Meryl,

Do you recommend keeping an anger journal?

Recommendation

I wouldn’t keep an anger journal because, while anger is a useful tool for discovering where you need boundaries, the purpose of paying attention to your anger is to be able to move beyond it. Keeping a journal about it makes it too concrete.
Linda Larsen makes the comment, “Resentment is like drinking poison – hoping they will die.” Resentment is simmered anger. Ultimately anger poisons you – but it can be a useful tool if you use it to see where you’ve been unclear and where you’ve not honored your own boundaries.

This article can help you:
Constructive Anger: How to SpeakStrong when you’re seeing red.

Also, SpeakStrong is loaded with tools that show you how to transform destructive anger into a positive tool.

Do you have a communication question? You can Ask Meryl.