Turning Anger Into Action
After hearing SCOTUS had overturned Roe vs. Wade – and reading the language in the Dobbs decision that puts so many other past rulings in jeopardy – I was sitting in a combination of sadness, fear, and above all anger. Although we knew it was likely happening when the opinion draft was leaked in May, receiving the news felt like I‘d been punched in the stomach. Knowing how many women (particularly women of color and lower socioeconomic status), their families, and our larger world will be negatively impacted by it. It felt despicable – and it still does.
After spending a day walking around in what felt like mental jello and commiserating with friends and my husband, I knew I needed to do something. It was time to channel my anger into action, transforming it into a power for good.
Each of us has been steeped in anger at one point or another. At some moments, it can feel like it eats us alive; at others, it can be the fuel that moves us forward. The latter is where I’m working to be right now.
The American Psychological Association tells us:
“Many of the longer-term outcomes of anger are negative. Yet, anger is part of our biological history. It is part of the fight-or-flight reaction. It had survival value in the past and it has some positives in the present. [. . . ] The positives include its alerting function. Anger tells others it is important to listen to us—that we feel agitated and it is wise to be alert to our words and actions.”
If we’re feeling anger right now, what might it be telling us? If we take a minute to pay attention to where it’s sitting in our bodies, it can provide a better understanding of its physical toll, and how it’s motivating our behaviors.
I’ve noticed my anger makes me prickly – I tend to get defensive, argumentative, and want to push back against feedback instead of being curious and thoughtful. Once I see my pattern, I can then make an active decision to move away from the behaviors that aren’t embodying how I want to show up. At the same time I’m able to tap into my strengths and manifest my anger positively.
Here are some of the ways I’m turning my anger into positive action right now:
Staying up to date on the ruling, those most impacted by it, updates to laws, and cascading accurate information.
Donations to Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and local organizations that support equitable access to reproductive healthcare
Mobilizing for larger political change through volunteer efforts to Common Power
Intentional spending with companies that will cover travel expenses for employee abortions
Sharing stories and support of important voices on social media
As someone whose work revolves around change, I see every challenge as an opportunity to realize something transformative. This moment is the ultimate reminder of what I do, and why I do it. If you're mad as hell right now, I invite you to join me in channeling your anger into positive action. We’ve steeped enough!
To reinforce my positive investment in well channeled anger, I’m ending this post with a quote from Soraya Chemaly’s Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger:
“Anger has a bad rap, but it is actually one of the most hopeful and forward thinking of all our emotions. It begets transformation, manifesting our passion and keeping us invested in the world. It is a rational and emotional response to trespass, violation, and moral disorder. It bridges the divide between what “is” and what “ought” to be, between a difficult past and an improved possibility. Anger warns us viscerally of violation, threat, and insult.”
