The Dark Side of “Playing Angry”

Play excited, play determined, play confident, but not angry. I know that’s likely going to raise some eyebrows and maybe even ruffle a few feathers because there are a lot of programs out there that teach gaining strength by exploiting anger, but energetically speaking, this can be a huge trap for a lot of athletes.

Here, I am specifically talking about summoning the emotion of anger up out of nowhere as a source of performance fuel. –forced anger. –forced rage. Ok. Regardless of what label you put on it, doing this is a form of energy channeling. You are basically saying, “Hey Anger, over here! Come join in, and help me out.” Energetically and spiritually, this is a very, very risky behavior that will open an individual up to a whole host of issues.  –and using these low energies as an avenue to success usually comes with delayed, but heavy consequences. 

Now, I’m not saying it doesn't work in the short term, it certainly can, but all that angry, vengeful energy doesn't just stay out on the field or in the ring; it follows you home. 

Energy affects everything. Especially behavior. As our behavior is a byproduct of our overall health, meaning the wellness of our body, mind, and spirit. 

Our spiritual health is synonymous with our energetic health. If you are intentionally and consistently calling upon the energies of anger, hate, and rage, going berserk in order to perform, then your responses, moods, personality, and daily behavior are going to become permeated by this low vibration, more and more. The more you do it, the easier it gets to conjure anger up, to the point that it becomes a normal way of being for you. Anger will become you when allowed to take root. 

This is actually a type of energetic possession.  That may be a little startling to hear put in those terms, but it's true. This type of energy possession is very common, not only in athletes but in people from all walks of life. There is no shame or judgment here; it happens to all of us at some point or another to varying degrees of subtle to severe. –But if left unchecked, over time, these low, angry energies will work to sabotage an athlete's entire personal life and career. 

Sadly, we're seeing more and more examples of this in the news as top athletes who are known for channeling angry, animalistic energies in competition—often with great success— are later finding themselves in serious trouble, facing charges for various violent crimes, and mayhem committed off the field. –some even showing signs of CTE, mental illness, or psychosis. This isn't a coincidence; this is energy. 

When we become possessed by anger, we also begin attracting anger-inducing experiences and people into our lives, because that's the vibe we are magnetizing to ourselves.  If you are spending most of your day in an angry vibration, that emotion is going to then characterize your reality. As like attracts like, you will be given more and more to be angry about.

I subscribe to the school of thought that, as an athlete, at practice and on game day, you are out there to get a job done. Your position is your job. Do the job. You don’t need to be angry or express hate toward others to complete a job you were hired to do. As anger, when allowed to fly wild, usually makes workmanship worse.--shoddy and inconsistent.  

On the flipside, natural anger that arises organically can be extremely powerful and beneficial for building upward momentum toward achieving goals when it is controlled. It's important to remember that although its powerful, anger vibrates low on the energy spectrum. If it's not handled with care and control, it can lead to instances of reactionary self-hexing and negative karmic returns that lead to errors, injuries, slumps, losses, and general failure in everyday life. 

Yes, anger can curse you. –But with focused intention, it is possible to take anger and transform it into a higher, more useful form of energy that can add to your performance and power. When it surfaces, anger should be harnessed and used to laser in on your task. Fierce determination and focus are what create masterpieces and champions.

When you experience flashes of anger, instead of losing your cool or cursing yourself, take a deep breath, fortify your energetic shield, the big bubble of light around your body, and imagine all that anger bubbling up into white hot determination. This is how you perform emotional alchemy.

Allow the feeling of firm, fierce determination to fill your shield and begin to circulate through. 

Bath in the energy of determination, and feel your focus intensify as you lock into this success vibration.  

Remember, your calm is your ultimate superpower. 

Control the energy. Control the game.