"Once shaken and overthrown, the mind becomes a slave to that which drives it. Just as bodies in freefall have no power over themselves and cannot resist or slow their descent, but the unstoppable downrush cuts off every thought and regret. Anger is like freefall gravity."

Is Anger Worth Our Time?

Humans are passionate creatures. Anger is one way to express that passion. But, anger in itself is a superficial emotion that usually masks something deeper. Our anger is something that can be used for our benefit, to explore within. However, uncontrolled anger can be catastrophic.  "No space is left for reason once passion has been ushered in and given jurisdiction."

Uncontrolled Anger

"Take note of this flaw in human nature and always suspect it: what we have to hear, we readily believe and we grow angry before we use our judgment.  Think then: what if we are driven to act, not by accusations but by mere suspicions, and grow angry at the guiltless because we read the worst into someone's facial expression or laughter."  Always suspect and inspect your anger before acting on it.

What To Do When You're Angry

"Momentum is pleasing if it stops in its tracks when ordered, doesn't run past the boundaries we have set, and can be steered and brought back on track as it goes." A healthy amount of anger is biologically and psychologically good - a means to get rid of stress hormones (with healthy ways of dealing with anger)

Healthy Anger

1. Avoid anger as much as you can, and if you do get angry, find healthy ways to manage them.  2. Be aware that we are all humans, and we are prone to mistakes. "The greatest punishment of a wrong that's been committed is having committed it." 3. Practice mutual leniency: we can put up with brief annoyances  4. "Hold back a bit; look, here's death, arriving to make you equal with them." At the end of the day, we have the inevitable end, so let's spend the living days with more love and compassion, rather than anger and hate.

The Ultimate Truth

Timeless wisdom on controlling anger in personal life and politics from the Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman Seneca In his essay “On Anger” (De Ira), the Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD) argues that anger is the most destructive passion: “No plague has cost the human race more dear.” This was proved by his own life, which he barely preserved under one wrathful emperor, Caligula, and lost under a second, Nero. This splendid new translation of essential selections from “On Anger,” presented with an enlightening introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, offers readers a timeless guide to avoiding and managing anger. It vividly illustrates why the emotion is so dangerous and why controlling it would bring vast benefits to individuals and society. Drawing on his great arsenal of rhetoric, including historical examples (especially from Caligula’s horrific reign), anecdotes, quips, and soaring flights of eloquence, Seneca builds his case against anger with mounting intensity. Like a fire-and-brimstone preacher, he paints a grim picture of the moral perils to which anger exposes us, tracing nearly all the world’s evils to this one toxic source. But he then uplifts us with a beatific vision of the alternate path, a path of forgiveness and compassion that resonates with Christian and Buddhist ethics. Seneca’s thoughts on anger have never been more relevant than today, when uncivil discourse has increasingly infected public debate. Whether seeking personal growth or political renewal, readers will find, in Seneca’s wisdom, a valuable antidote to the ills of an angry age.

books

Books

De Ira or "On Anger" is an essay on anger by Seneca the Younger. The work offers advice on controlling anger and to make it subject to reason. It is not clear to scholars who wrote the first work on the subject of passions or emotions (the terms are thought interchangeable), but while Xenocrates (396/5-314/3 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322 BCE) were students at Plato's Academy, a discussion on emotions took place which provided likely the impetus for all later work on the subject. The Stoic Posidonius of Apamea (c.135 - 51 BCE) is considered the main source for Seneca, also the work of Theophrastus, Antipater of Tarsus, Philodemus of Gadara, Sotion of Alexandria, Xenocrates (active sometime after 346 BCE) and Aristotle (c. 384-322 BCE ). Other influences may have included works On Passions by the Stoic philosophers Zeno of Citium, Chrysippus, Aristo of Chios, Herillus, Hecato of Rhodes, and the Peripatetic philosopher Andronicus of Rhodes (c. 1st century B.C.). Within the context of Stoicism, which seeks to aid and guide the person in a development out of a life of slavery to behaviors and ways of the vices, to freedom within a life characterized by virtue, de Ira posits this as achievable by the development of an understanding of how to control the passions, anger being classified as a passion, and to make these subject to reason.Seneca's thoughts of the relationship of the passions to reason, are that the passions arise in a rational mind as a result of a misperceiving or misunderstanding of reality.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca or Seneca the Younger); ca. 4 BC – 65 AD) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero, who later forced him to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to have him assassinated.

Seneca

On Anger

How to Keep Your Cool

"Nothing can be of such great benefit to you, in your quest for moderation in all things, that to frequently contemplate the brevity of one's life span, and its uncertainty. Whatever you undertake, cast your eyes on death." Accepting that death is an inevitable part of the process and preparing for the end of life (and that it could happen any time) is key.

I. Prepare yourself

"Life is granted with death as its limitation; it's the universal endpoint. To fear it is madness, since fear is for things we're unsure of; certainties are merely awaited." When we fear or worry about something, we are living through it twice. So, why fear something that's inevitable?

II. Have no fear

"There's only one way we can say that the life we live is long: if it's enough." "I look upon (my life) as though it could be my last." Don't delay the things you want to do when you retire or when you think you will have the time to do it. Live immediately.

III. Have no regrets

"Death is as near as it can be...The thing we call dying, the moment when the soul leaves the body, is too quick for the speed of its exit to be felt. You fear for so long that which takes only a short time!" Just being aware of how quick death is can help break the shackles of our fear.

IV. Set yourself free

"There is nothing that does not grow old...Whatever is, will no longer be; it won't die, but will be undone." "It is a great comfort that the earth too is mortal."

V. Become a part of the whole

Timeless wisdom on death and dying from the celebrated Stoic philosopher Seneca "It takes an entire lifetime to learn how to die," wrote the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). He counseled readers to "study death always," and took his own advice, returning to the subject again and again in all his writings, yet he never treated it in a complete work. How to Die gathers in one volume, for the first time, Seneca's remarkable meditations on death and dying. Edited and translated by James S. Romm, How to Die reveals a provocative thinker and dazzling writer who speaks with a startling frankness about the need to accept death or even, under certain conditions, to seek it out. Seneca believed that life is only a journey toward death and that one must rehearse for death throughout life. Here, he tells us how to practice for death, how to die well, and how to understand the role of a good death in a good life. He stresses the universality of death, its importance as life's final rite of passage, and its ability to liberate us from pain, slavery, or political oppression. Featuring beautifully rendered new translations, How to Die also includes an enlightening introduction, notes, the original Latin texts, and an epilogue presenting Tacitus's description of Seneca's grim suicide.

philosophy

Philosophy

Timeless wisdom on death and dying from the celebrated Stoic philosopher Seneca"It takes an entire lifetime to learn how to die," wrote the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). He counseled readers to "study death always," and took his own advice, returning to the subject again and again in all his writings, yet he never treated it in a complete work. How to Die gathers in one volume, for the first time, Seneca's remarkable meditations on death and dying. Edited and translated by James S. Romm, How to Die reveals a provocative thinker and dazzling writer who speaks with a startling frankness about the need to accept death or even, under certain conditions, to seek it out. Seneca believed that life is only a journey toward death and that one must rehearse for death throughout life. Here, he tells us how to practice for death, how to die well, and how to understand the role of a good death in a good life. He stresses the universality of death, its importance as life's final rite of passage, and its ability to liberate us from pain, slavery, or political oppression. Featuring beautifully rendered new translations, How to Die also includes an enlightening introduction, notes, the original Latin texts, and an epilogue presenting Tacitus's description of Seneca's grim suicide.

How to Die

When there are differing perspectives, there will be a conflict of interest. This means that arguments are almost inevitable. But why and how we argue are such important aspects to be explored to build strong and meaningful relationships.

Conflicts

With a clash of ideas, there will be conflict. The purpose of a conversation is to communicate, to allow the listener to understand our point of view. And, we listen, not just to respond to them, but to understand them.

Why do we argue?

There must be trust, that both parties are here for conflict resolution, and not hurt each other. Create a safe space - a space for a non-judgmental, open conversation. To allow the other person to be honest about their feelings, whilst feeling safe and secure when sharing your feelings.

How do we argue?

Showing your emotions is important, especially if they are a means to express what you're feeling to your partner.  However, when emotions like anger or aggression hit that point of hurting your loved one, that's when we've gone too far. To prevent this, it's important to be mindful of how you're feeling whilst talking to them. The moment you feel that anger broiling, take a step back, cool off, and come back to give this conversation another go,

Are emotions good for arguments?

All in all, it is important to have the bigger picture in mind when having these conversations. Also, remember that no argument, no conflict is worth losing your loved one over. Communication is the first step to resolution. It's not about "you versus me", it's "us against the problem".

Argue mindfully

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

Why the purpose of your argument is so important

In today's world, where we jump from trend to trend, we learn how to adapt to new things almost instantaneously. However, in this process of keeping up with society, we lose something bigger - our sense of self.

Journey of Self

One word. Predictibility. When you know what you're made up of, what your thoughts are, what your emotions mean, your triggers, flaws and strengths - you can predict how you'd react, thus, having more control over our reactions. Who we are today is a product of our upbringing, societal expectations, exposure, conditioning etc. When we attempt to strip away all these other layers, we get to the core Self.

Why is it important to learn about yourself? 

There are many different ways to dive into self-discovery. But, you're more likely to commit to it when it's the inner curiosity that pushes you to know more. 1. Regular reflections (be it good or hard times) can be of great help. Simply identifying your emotions and then analyzing them could lead to many breakthroughs. 2. Dive into your trauma (if applicable) - our past trauma has an impact on our present and future, and they have a habit of sneaking up in the most unexpected ways. Reflect on your adverse events and reach a resolution that works for you. To heal, you must feel.

How do we explore the Self?

When you start your journey of Self, you'll discover parts of yourself that you've never seen before. Don't be afraid to interact with them. As you go deeper, it gets more addictive.

How to Keep Your Cool

How to Die

Why the purpose of your argument is so important

Self-discovery and its importance

Priyanka Naidu