Do THIS and You Will NEVER Be ANGRY at ANYONE Again | Alan Watts

About this video

• Video Title: Do THIS and You Will NEVER Be ANGRY at ANYONE Again | Alan Watts
• Channel: Alan Watts Teaches
• Speakers: Alan Watts
• Duration: 15:36

Overview

This video by Alan Watts explores the nature of anger, positing that it originates from within rather than from external sources. Watts suggests that anger arises from our resistance to reality and our expectations of how others and life should be. He offers a path to overcome anger through awareness, acceptance, humor, remembering mortality, and understanding that anger often masks underlying emotions like fear or hurt. Ultimately, mastering anger leads to inner peace and a more effective way of interacting with the world.

Key takeaways

• Anger is Internal: Anger is not caused by others but by our own internal state, specifically our refusal to accept reality and our clinging to expectations.
• The "Hot Coal" Analogy: Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent to harm another; you end up burning yourself.
• Observation over Suppression: Instead of suppressing or violently expressing anger, the key is to observe its emergence with awareness, which leads to its dissolution.
• Acceptance vs. Approval: Accepting reality does not mean approving of it; it means allowing things to be as they are without resistance.
• Self-Acceptance as Foundation: Being at peace with your own flaws and mistakes reduces anger towards others, as external anger is often a projection of internal conflict.
• Clarity over Reaction: True strength lies in clear, firm responses, not blind, angry reactions. Freedom from anger leads to more effective actions.
• Practices for Mastery: Cultivating mastery over anger involves practicing awareness, surrender, humor, remembering mortality, and acknowledging the emotions beneath anger.
• Peace is Contagious: By mastering anger and cultivating peace within oneself, you also extend that calm to those around you.