The Hidden Price Of Outrage

"I swear, sentry duty gets tiring. I think it's another one of their strategies to wear us down. Only thing is, they get paid for their attacks, but we don't, so for us, it's like having two jobs."

That's what I said in a comment to one reader in my last post where I was cussing more than usual. I don't usually get nearly as angry as I did this week, but reading and writing about the escalation of hate from some of our elected politicians had me seeing red. Instead of making hate crimes against the law, some are trying to make it the law.

Yeah, I'm talking to you, Arizona.

There's a downside to being reactive to the hostility we encounter in life, whether it's as a spectator to politics, race relations, or anything that pisses us off where we have little control.

Fear or anger are useful when we can quickly resolve it, but otherwise, these primitive emotions quash our creativity and divert our intellect from growing in productive ways.

The reason is we're too busy playing cop, detective or soldier to someone or some group that wants to harm us or rip us off.

This could be happening in your personal life right now. For example, while you're reading or skimming through this post, or being busy in your daily routine, in the back of your mind, you're wondering:

- if the man in your life is only showing up for sex, not because he really gives a damn about you,

- if the latest lady you've been chilling with for two weeks only wants to snag you into a committed relationship leading to marriage because you've got it going on economically;

- if your co-worker has been back stabbing you because you're more popular with the boss.

- if the boss has been sabotaging you because he or she is envious and insecure about your superior competence;

- if a friend or classmate has been trying to turn others against you because they think they look good by making you look bad;

- and you wonder, how the non-stop bigotry by those in the media and politics will directly hurt not only your group, but you and your family.

And so on.

When you are chronically placed on guard duty, on behalf of yourself or for others, where is there time or energy left to think about all the cool things in the world?

Or to try your hand at reading, writing about, or doing some of those things?

Nope, you've been siphoned off no differently than the way a thief drains your gas tank. You might even get in your proverbial car and use the remaining gas to catch him, her or them, and run 'em down.

Well, that's one less thief if you succeed. Bravo.

But most of the time, we're just left furious and with an empty tank. You may even refuel with your anger and continue the search, not noticing that the thief has stolen something even more precious - your time and energy, and with that, your creativity.

What would you be doing differently if the confusing OR hostile actions of XYZ, whom you know personally or only read about in the news, weren't consuming you?

What different road might you take if your tank was safe and full because your gas cap had a lock on it?