We are taught to believe it's bad to be angry, or at least it's

Host: The evening light streamed softly through the window, casting long shadows across the room. The air was still, yet filled with an underlying sense of anticipation. Jeeny sat on the couch, her legs curled beneath her, a book in her hands, though her mind seemed miles away. Jack, standing by the window, gazed out, lost in thought. The world outside seemed distant, yet somehow, the words they had been circling in their minds were slowly finding their way to the surface.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice calm but with a certain edge) “I read something today by Koren Zailckas that made me think. She said, ‘We are taught to believe it’s bad to be angry, or at least it’s not good. That’s not the case all throughout the world. People are more open and not embarrassed about it. For instance, in Paris, people believe Americans have a really unhealthy relation with anger. They think it’s essential to get angry.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: (turning toward her, his expression thoughtful) “I get what she’s saying, but it sounds a little counterintuitive, don’t you think? We’re taught to be in control of our emotions, especially anger. It’s seen as a sign of maturity, of strength, to keep your cool. I mean, what good comes from just letting anger out whenever you feel it?”

Jeeny: (with a soft smile, her voice steady) “But isn’t it true that we repress our anger so often, that it builds up inside of us and causes more harm in the long run? Maybe the problem isn’t anger itself, but how we handle it. In some cultures, expressing anger is seen as part of being authentic, of not hiding what you’re truly feeling. There’s something freeing about acknowledging your anger, rather than pretending it doesn’t exist.”

Host: The quiet tension in the room seemed to shift as the conversation found its natural rhythm. Jack turned slightly, his arms folded across his chest, his brow furrowed in thought. The evening outside had deepened into twilight, the soft light of the room casting gentle shadows around them.

Jack: (his tone reflective) “I see what you’re saying. But doesn’t expressing anger just escalate things? What if you get too caught up in the emotion and it leads to actions you regret later? I don’t think it’s about suppressing the emotion, but about choosing how you express it.”

Jeeny: (nodding) “Absolutely. It’s not about giving in to the anger, but about allowing yourself to feel it without judgment. Sometimes, we see anger as something shameful, something to be buried. But in cultures where it’s accepted, people feel empowered by it, rather than ashamed. They don’t hide behind a mask of politeness or repress their feelings—they live honestly.”

Jack: (pauses, considering her words) “So, you think we should be more like that? More open, more honest about our anger? Let it show, rather than keep it buried inside?”

Jeeny: (her voice gentle but insistent) “Not all the time, but yes, sometimes. The key is in the balance. Anger, like any emotion, is human. It’s a signal that something needs to be addressed. The problem comes when we either ignore it or when it controls us in unhealthy ways. If we allow ourselves to feel it and then deal with it in a healthy, constructive manner, it can actually be a tool for change, for growth.”

Host: The room felt a little heavier now, as the idea of anger shifted from something negative to something more nuanced. Jack leaned against the windowsill, his gaze distant, his thoughts clearly at work. Jeeny sat still, her expression calm but determined, as though she were quietly urging him to reconsider his own thoughts about the emotion.

Jack: (softly) “I think part of me is afraid of that. Afraid of what would happen if I just let my anger out, if I expressed it too freely. I don’t want to hurt anyone with it, or let it take over.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice warm) “It’s about learning to express it with intention, Jack. Anger doesn’t have to lead to destruction. It can lead to something positive, if we use it to stand up for ourselves, to make changes, to communicate what’s really bothering us. If we bottle it up, that’s when it becomes toxic. The key is not to suppress it, but to find healthy ways to release it.”

Jack: (pausing, with a quiet exhale) “Maybe we’ve been too afraid of anger, too afraid of what it means if we admit we’re angry. We’re always told to keep it under control, to push it aside. Maybe we’ve been getting it wrong all along.”

Host: The air in the room shifted, as though Jack’s internal struggle had finally found a little clarity. The stillness between them seemed to deepen, the weight of their conversation settling over the space. Jeeny’s words had peeled away some of the layers of doubt, leaving behind a new possibility—a way of embracing emotion without fear or shame.

Jeeny: (softly) “It’s not about indulging in anger, Jack. It’s about acknowledging it, understanding it, and using it as a force to help you make better choices. Maybe we’ve been conditioned to think anger is something bad, but really, it’s a human emotion that can help us grow if we allow ourselves to feel it honestly.”

Jack: (nodding slowly) “I think I’m starting to see that. Maybe it’s time to stop hiding from it, to understand it instead. It doesn’t have to control me—it can just be a part of who I am.”

Host: As the conversation wound to a close, the air in the room felt lighter, more open. The quiet of the evening had settled into a reflective calm, both Jeeny and Jack seemingly at peace with the new perspective they’d uncovered together. Anger, once feared and suppressed, now felt like a natural part of the emotional landscape—a tool to be used wisely, not something to hide from.

Outside, the world continued its march toward night, but inside, the conversation had shifted something deeper—something more honest, more real.