The Forms That Anger Takes

by Robert Perry

Slight annoyance is a veil drawn over intense fury

The anger may take the form of any reaction ranging from mild irritation to rage. The degree of the emotion you experience does not matter. You will become increasingly aware that a slight twinge of annoyance is nothing but a veil drawn over intense fury. (W-pI.21.2:3-5)

Mild irritation is the same as fantasies of violence and acted-out violence

Regardless…of the intensity of the anger that is aroused. It may be merely slight irritation, perhaps too mild to be even clearly recognized. Or it may also take the form of intense rage, accompanied by thoughts of violence, fantasied or apparently acted out. It does not matter. All of these reactions are the same. (M-17.4:3-7)

Anything that instills guilt in another is anger

Anger takes many forms, but it cannot long deceive those who will learn that love brings no guilt at all, and what brings guilt cannot be love and must be anger. (T-15.VII.10:2)

Self-sacrifice is anger

For each one thinks that he has sacrificed something to the other, and hates him for it….And for this sacrifice, which he demands of himself, he demands that the other accept the guilt and sacrifice himself as well. (T-15.VII.7:2-6)

Fear, worry, depression, anxiety, hatred, and jealousy are the same as anger

The upset may seem to be fear, worry, depression, anxiety, anger, hatred, jealousy or any number of forms, all of which will be perceived as different. This is not true. (W-pI.5.1:3-4)

Not liking someone, not wanting to run into someone, trying to overlook someone—all anger

…someone you do not like, who seems to irritate you, or to cause regret in you if you should meet him; one you actively despise, or merely try to overlook. It does not matter what the form your anger takes. (W-pI.121.10:1-2)

Anger, no matter what the form, blocks our way, brings self-condemnation, and drops the curtain on peace

We recognize that we have lost this goal if anger blocks our way in any form. (W-pI.181.6:1)

If a magic thought arouses anger in any form, God’s teacher can be sure that he is strengthening his own belief in sin and has condemned himself. (M-17.1:6)

Returning anger, in whatever form, will drop the heavy curtain once again, and the belief that peace cannot exist will certainly return. (M-20.4:2)

 

[Please note: ACIM passages quoted in this article reference the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) Edition.]