“Anger is a gift.” – Rage Against the Machine, Bombtrack, rage against the machine
As a Stoic you are not supposed to feel anger. That is the biggest misconception about Stoicism, with a big S, compared to stoic, with a little s.
stoic – not affected by or showing passion or feeling – Miriam-Webster definition
Stoic philosophers did not believe that you should not feel emotions. They believed that you should be in control of your emotions at all times.
You can feel anger, love, and sadness. Every emotion you have, at any time.
But then what?
“That it’s not what they do that bothers us: that’s a problem for their minds, not ours. It’s our misperceptions. Discard them. Be willing to give up thinking of this as a catastrophe…and your anger is gone.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 11.18.vii
You have to domesticate those emotions. You can not let other’s actions rule your response. You have to use your emotions to your advantage.
Use any emotion, especially anger, to get better, to work harder, to learn more about yourself.
Rage is the dangerous emotion. Rage is out of control. Rage will make the situation worse.
Anger can be used to your advantage if you separate it from the situation.
Sometimes people need to know you are angry. It gets their attention, but it must be used in a measured way.
Anger can get your point across. It can drive you to improve.
Anger is a gift.
Educational Stoic 