It's OK To be Angry....

This morning, I felt really annoyed, and it was because I couldn’t get past all the children and parents doing the school run! All I wanted to do was have my usual morning walk to let my thoughts for the day ahead settle in my mind. However, what I actually got was being swept up in a queue of cars, prams, pushchairs, screaming children and stressed parents. It was not the start to the day that I needed for me, or my Labrador, Edith!

That initial surge of irritation felt uncomfortable but I didn’t suppress it or pretend it wasn’t there - and? that’s what I want to talk about - why allowing yourself to feel anger is beneficial.

Anger is a natural human emotion, and feeling it doesn’t make you a bad person. By acknowledging your anger, you are validating your experience. Whether it’s minor frustrations like a crowded path or more significant issues, it’s important to allow your emotions to surface. Ignoring or repressing anger can lead to further frustration, and in the long term, it can even manifest physically as stress or illness.

Feeling anger is a signal that something is wrong or that your boundaries have been crossed. When you allow yourself to feel it, you gain insight into what matters to you. This morning, my anger stemmed from a disrupted routine, which signals how important my quiet walks with Edith are for my mental well-being. Instead of being irritated and moving on, I can now plan to go out a little earlier or choose a different route.

Many of us have been taught to suppress anger, viewing it as a destructive emotion, but supressed anger can build up and explode later in unhealthy ways. So, process it in the moment, to give yourself the space to respond rather than react.

When I acknowledged my frustration, I could make better decisions about how to proceed with the rest of the day. I could shift my focus rather than letting the bad start ruin everything else!

Anger can be a powerful motivator for change. When you understand where it’s coming from, it can fuel action. Whether that’s setting boundaries, changing your environment, or advocating for yourself, anger can help you recognise what needs to shift in your life. It can motivate you to act in ways that align better with your values and priorities.

Believe it or not, anger can improve relationships! By expressing your anger constructively, you allow others to understand what affects you and opens the door to better communication and stronger relationships. If I had stayed silent, bottling up the frustration from my walk, it could have influenced my interactions with others later in the day.

Anger is not the enemy; it’s how we deal with it that matters. The next time you feel anger bubbling up, give yourself permission to feel it. Recognise it as an emotional signal, a call for self-awareness, and a tool for growth. When approached in a healthy way, anger can be one of the most transformative emotions we experience.