Several times a day, I discover I'm carrying around a backpack full of rocks. And then I realize I can simply...put it down. A short thread on my rage in 2025. 🧵 - ThreadSky

joanwestenberg.com • 47 days ago

Several times a day, I discover I'm carrying around a backpack full of rocks.

And then I realize I can simply...put it down. A short thread on my rage in 2025. 🧵

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seedsofsuccess.bsky.social•46 days ago

There’s a great book called Drop the Rock. It’s written for people in recovery from substance use, but the ideas are universal. I find myself pausing, breathing, and consciously letting go of anger and fear multiple times a day. I don’t want to become a bitter person

midwesternmama.bsky.social•47 days ago

📌

jonesdan.bsky.social•46 days ago

Rucking is a great physical activity, keep it up.

kimhodges.bsky.social•47 days ago

Thank you. I needed this today. ❤️

nouslogos.bsky.social•47 days ago

yeah, those amygdala hikacks....

joanwestenberg.com•47 days ago

We've been sold a story about anger. That it's inevitable, justified, necessary. That it's something that happens TO us rather than something we choose.

The amygdala fires. The blood pressure rises. The fists clench.

joanwestenberg.com•47 days ago

But here's the thing: while the initial spark might be automatic, the bonfire is optional.

The market manipulation makes me angry. The political corruption makes me angry. The trolls make me angry. The hate makes me angry. The transphobia makes me angry...

Except it doesn't.

joanwestenberg.com•47 days ago

I choose anger because it feels righteous. Because it energizes. Because it lets me point fingers, dunk and scream. I choose it far more often than I'd like. And every time I choose it, I spiral.

joanwestenberg.com•47 days ago

The alternative to anger isn't passivity. It's not surrendering to injustice or accepting the unacceptable.

joanwestenberg.com•47 days ago

It's simply asking: "Is this anger serving me? Is it serving anyone?"

For me, usually, it isn't.

joanwestenberg.com•47 days ago

The trick isn't processing the anger or justifying it or reframing it.

The trick is noticing I'm choosing it.

darrylricker.bsky.social•47 days ago

Wow! This is a powerful post. I carry those rocks far too often. I’m reminded of the Victor Frankl quote: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Thank you for your post!

csbv.bsky.social•47 days ago

I feel seen.

25-oclock.bsky.social•46 days ago

📌

saross00.bsky.social•47 days ago

🤯

katecohenart.bsky.social•46 days ago

Spot on. I’m learning to not choose anger. It’s been a hard lesson as I have such a huge injustice button.

jharrop.me•47 days ago

A friend of mine’s Facebook bio is “No longer setting myself on fire when someone tells me they’re cold” and I felt that.

njn2002.bsky.social•46 days ago

📌

njn2002.bsky.social•46 days ago

Thank you for this thread.

It’s easy for the righteousness of anger to turn into self-righteousness. We see that a lot in quite a few of our fellow Americans. And for them, that feeling is addictive.

lorikeeta.bsky.social•46 days ago

Such a great reminder. Thank you.

michmom.bsky.social•46 days ago

Thank you, I really needed this. 🙏🏻

breathfartnews.bsky.social•47 days ago

Thanks for putting words to this wisdom I discovered long ago.

Too often, I find people are unable to fully realize this ability until they've found it by themselves, but I hope people grasp this choice and incorporate it in their lives.

mercime.bsky.social•46 days ago

This is 100% correct. Learning to use anger rather than letting anger use you is huge. It is a tremendous tool. Live your life happily, knowing it's there for you when you need it.

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