There are different levels of anger, there is anger that produces the action to get things done and there is also the anger where you lose control, can’t think and you are “foaming at the mouth.” From my studying, anger is not useful it is toxic to our bodies. A lot of people tend to be very attached to their emotions, anger being one of them, thus letting emotions take them over. So when they are angry they are almost high in rage, a lot of people enjoy being angry because it is a powerful drive. The problem with anger is that it damages the body as epinephrine and cortizol are released. Anger is not far off from fear and the flight or fight system as it uses the same system, but where fear is associated with safety, anger usually revolves around the ego and a perceived loss, such as a loss of dignity, someone doing a wrong to us, someone trying to take something from us and so on… The list of what can cause anger when we many attachments and are attached to anger is endless because it is an emotion of the ego, and thus shows ego clinging as many gurus put it.

Now with all of that said when a person has great control over their body and mind they can still act “angry.” That is to say you should never lose your bark, just don’t be attached to it and stop trying to bite people. To me it is recognizing anger arising in a situation and being present to what is occurring. Obviously you can’t always be nice and let people walk all over you, you have to ACT angry, like I said don’t lose your bark, but don’t act on anger, don’t focus on it and don’t become attached to it. It is difficult because a lot of things we do that are beneficial to ourselves and others such as being an advocate, are bolstered by anger it can be unstoppable force. But it also causes people to do and say idiotic things in the name of those causes. So I think in those cases it is useful to recognize the feeling of being angry, then coming up with a plan a script so to speak of what you are going to do and what you are going to say all the way down to the tones of your voice and the body language you will use, without losing control because when you lose control is when it is game over, no one gives a person a temper tantrum what they want or need, then once you feel like you are settled into a calmer state of mind then act on your plan. If you have ever watched a good actor you will see them act angry, but are they really angry? They are acting angry, yet not attached to the anger sometimes in life we have to be like good actors.
Hope my thoughts on anger are useful,
Mike