What if Anger Isn’t Bad — It’s Just Misunderstood? [episode 111]
Listen to What if Anger Isn’t Bad — It’s Just Misunderstood? on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | your platform of choice
Anger gets a bad rap. Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from sooo many people who say things like, “I know I shouldn’t be mad, but…” or “I should be grateful, but I’m actually pissed.”
It always makes me wonder: who told us anger was wrong? Who taught us that feeling mad made us ungrateful, dramatic, or “too much”?
In today’s episode, I’m diving into the question: “What if anger isn’t bad, it’s just misunderstood?” Believe me, I used to be that person who felt guilty the instant anger showed up.
Anger doesn’t disappear just because we pretend it’s not there. It builds, simmers, and eventually leaks out in ways we don’t plan for. Anger is just information about how our bodies are feeling off, unsafe, or out of alignment (kind of like how our cattle show us when the pressure isn’t right).
We often confuse anger with guilt, but most of the time, what we’re actually feeling is SHAME. In rural and ag communities, anger was often modeled as aggression or punishment, so we learned to avoid it altogether.
For women especially, anger got labeled as “too much,” “dramatic,” or “bitchy.”
Healthy anger looks very different because we’re applying the right amount of pressure. When we stay present with our anger instead of exploding or stuffing it down, it becomes energy we can use!
Ultimately, anger isn’t “bad” or the enemy – it’s a compass pointing us toward truth, alignment, and authenticity. When we listen to it, we gain clarity, stronger boundaries, deeper relationships, and a whole lot more connection!
In this episode, What if Anger Isn’t Bad — It’s Just Misunderstood?, I cover:
- What anger actually is + why it’s valuable information
- How guilt and shame differ + why shame often shows up with anger
- What suppressed anger turns into
- How anger was modeled for us growing up + that shaped our avoidance of it
- Why healthy anger supports boundaries, clarity & authenticity
- Simple tools to help you work with anger
Resources & Links:
- Join the waitlist for the Good Movement Collective
- Good Movement music by: Aaron Espe
- Podcast produced by: Jill Carr Podcasting
Connect with Terryn:
- Follow on Instagram @terryn.drieling
- Check out my website
- Send me an email at terryn@terryndrieling.com
Related Episodes:
- Episode 25: The ‘Thick Skin’ Myth and How We View Emotions in Rural America
- Episode 94: I Thought I Didn’t Get Angry…Turns Out I Was Just Really Good at Stuffing It Down
- Episode 96: Manure to Meaning—Acknowledging the Crap Is the First Step
More about the Good Movement Draws Good Movement podcast:
In stockmanship (the art and science of handling cattle in a safe, effective, low-stress manner), we have this phrase . . . good movement draws good movement.
It’s this thing that happens when we ask a small group of cattle, maybe a cow, or a pair to move out in a certain direction, and their movement draws the whole herd into moving in the same direction.
Good movement happens when we approach the cattle with a positive attitude, read and really listen to what they’re telling us, and communicate accordingly.
We don’t approach the aware, flighty cattle the same as we do the tame, docile cattle. We adjust ourselves, our energy, and approach, and communicate with each differently.
These adjustments help us effectively draw good movement from each, which then draws good movement from the herd. But it starts with us.
The same is true for humans. Good movement starts with us.
Welcome to Good Movement Draws Good Movement, the podcast where farmers, ranchers, and rural folks can grow relationally through awareness, understanding, and effective communication.
Hey, it’s me – T. I’m your host, and I, along with my guests, will be covering topics related to drawing good movement – things like self and social awareness, brain science, positive psychology, extending grace, and so much more.
We’ll share tools that can help you understand why you are the way you are, why others are the way they are, and how you can use that to step out of self-told lies with grace and compassion to draw good movement in conversations, relationships, and life in rural America.
Tune in every Tuesday and make sure to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode! Let’s go draw good movement!
