Anger can be an intuitive signal. In her Advanced Energy Anatomy tapes, Carolyn Myss says that anger can be a sign of claiming your power. I agree.
When you feel lost and confused, it is easy to give your power to anyone who appears on your doorstep -- a coach, a counselor, even a good friend or relative. People in transition, who are seeking direction, are especially vulnerable to anyone who offers help. The US government has developed programs to protect newly-bereaved citizens who are vulnerable to claims from funeral services.
Sometimes I meet people who have been laid off or otherwise terminated. They have been sitting on the couch for a long time, trying to decide what to do. They have undertaken introspective life reviews. They may have begun a frantic search for a new career, sending out batches of resumes. Perhaps they called half a dozen friends to commiserate about the evils of the workplace.
After six months or a year, they get a new sense of purpose. They visit a career center, call a couch or check out the services of the Small Business Administration.
Inevitably, when you get off the couch and start moving, you need to learn a new way to walk. Maybe you were a champion networker when you were vice president of Mega-Mega, and now you are a job seeker or a start-up entrepreneur. Maybe you wrote award-winning ads, and now you are faced with selling yourself through a resume.
Starting over is much harder than starting out. Author Martha Beck says that career transition is like going back to kindergarten. You feel that everybody knows more than you and you really want to go back to the way things were before.
And one day you wake up and realize, "Wait a minute! I know more than I realized!"
You may be angry with those who steered you in the wrong direction -- or with yourself for not paying attention.
You may be angry with someone who says, "You can't do that!" when you know perfectly well you can.
I am not suggesting you lash out at those who offended you, although I think you can ask for reparation if you can demonstrate real harm. I am not suggesting you make decisions while you are angry.
But if you have let your intuition lie dormant or you have responded passively to events around you, anger is a sign that you are getting your power back. You are turning on the juice. Your intuition is beginning to overpower the wet blankets, the poison darts, and the well-meaning-but-misguided mentors.
Some clients are surprised when they feel angry. Some believe that only happiness can signal that a transition is going well.
Sadness, depression and grief can be danger signals. They can paralyze.
Recognize, welcome and manage your anger. You are almost certainly ready to take action and experience your own power once again.
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., creates client-attracting marketing meessages for solo professionals who need to sell themselves but can't afford to sound sales-y.
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