I don’t often lose my temper, but I often have to use it – Dolly Parton. The quote popped up on my newsfeed like a reminder from my inner self to do what I know to do. I needed the reminder to express myself and set my boundaries. I couldn’t wait to listen to the podcast that it was promoting (details below). You see, I feel the same way about my temper. I try to use it, instead of allowing it to use me.
Using my anger though is not something that came easily. I can be quick to anger and often that anger got out of control; things would be said, actions taken I couldn’t take back. I’ve never been a fighter, but when it came to psychological warfare that was a questionable gift that I possessed. A strange combination of an overthinking mind and the ability to read people (and therefore their weaknesses).
Along the way, I learned to control my anger and invoke it; not let it rule me or my actions. I take no pride in the hurt I’ve caused in the past. Given the opportunity, I’ve expressed that to those that it impacted. The reality though, is that it impacted me most. Losing my temper and allowing it to rule over me was isolating, often embarrassing and often put me in tough situations. I talked about finding my way through that in this short post.
But what’s the difference, right?
How do you know if you’re using your anger or if it’s using you? For me, it was how I felt at that moment and specifically afterwards. Was my anger intentional and used in a way that was powerful? Or was it let loose, spraying or firing all over the place? Identifying that difference was all it took for me. Before, during or after, if I could see that there was any ‘spraying’ of anger or choices that were not in keeping with who I am as a person, my temper had been lost. When I draw on my anger and use it, it’s calm and pointed. Direct in a way that it never is if my temper is lost.
It took practice and in many ways, it still does. In general, I don’t consider myself an angry person, anymore. It’s like an arrow in my quiver, something I can draw on when it’s required. Not in a fake way, but in a way that serves me. In the episode, Dolly references holding employees accountable for what they said they would (or even could) do. She also uses anger, when needed to set or maintain her boundaries. I love that. To be able to call upon anger in such a powerful way is exactly the kind of angry I want to be. Not to mention the next level which is to use my anger to call out injustice or inequality.
So, I keep learning and asking myself What WOULD Dolly Do?
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Podcast description: Brené with Dolly Parton on Songtelling, Empathy and Shining Our Lights
This episode is proof that dreams do come true! I get to talk to Dolly Parton about love, empathy, and the power of truth-telling. We talk about everything from her new book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics and songwriting, to the challenges of leading organizations and Burt Reynolds. It’s amazing to me how Dolly’s songwriting and storytelling seem to be driven by a deep calling to turn toward pain and heartbreak so she can shine a light for all of us to find our way.
Listen to the Dolly Parton episode of Brené Brown’s podcast Unlocking Us here.
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Hi! I’m Melissa Walker Horn. Around here, they call me Suger. I’m the Chief Blogger and doer of all the things here at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; I love a casual ootd, taking photos, and writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet over at Chalkboard Digital. You know, living the sweet life.
Hey! Thank you very much for the post, it’s very interesting! This is my main problem, my anger … I can never control myself in it. When I was a teenager, I didn’t care, but now, I really care about it, and I fought for a long time. All the same, your article is very useful and I think it will help people with the same problem as mine will think about it! The main thing is practice and a desire to change something, and if this is all there, then everything will work out! Thank you very much!
I agree; I think you need to recognise that you want to do things differently before any change can occur.
Sometimes you just have to use it to make your case. When the banking institution got lax with my account I had to use my temper to impart the anger that was rising. So, when I finally got tired of speaking to workers in India and I saw someone face to face. . . . I can laugh at it now but I was not pretty. Enjoy December. . .
http://www.madamtoomuch.com
I totally agree with that; being able to draw on anger when required is so powerful. You sound like and vs. the Facebook bots. Haha. Thank you, you too. xo
Sometimes you just have to use it to make your case. When the banking institution got lax with my account I had to use my temper to impart the anger that was rising. So, when I finally got tired of speaking to workers in India and I saw someone face to face. . . . I can laugh at it now but I was not pretty. Enjoy December. . .
http://www.madamtoomuch.com