“If you're not angry, you’re not paying attention!” became Erik’s mantra. His face would turn crimson and the veins in his temples and neck would swell. Sometimes he would fester in silence, shaking his fist at the television, while his insides stewed like a pressure cooker. Other times his anger misfired, and he would snap at an unsuspecting bystander.

Whether it’s the political state of affairs, road rage, the inconsiderate neighbor who blasts their music at all hours, or racial/social injustices, anger affects us all. Many of us were taught to control, manage, or suppress it. Our experience of anger is connected to our perception of danger or threat, and it can activate our fight-or-flight response, creating inflammation in our bodily systems. However, if we pay attention, our anger is a great teacher. It’s a healthy emotion and an important and natural human response that offers important insight into who we are and what matters most to us.