Red hot? Lava-like? Thorny, like a ball covered in spikes?

I’ve been asking this question a lot lately, trying to get to the root of it. Anger is like a star. It sits in your tummy and when everything is going okay, you don’t even notice it. But as soon as you perceive a threat, the star begins to change. The shifts may begin in a subtle way. A strange poking here and there caused by the points of the star. If it is not addressed, it will begin to dig harder, like a thorn in the skin. Everything you do, every interaction you have, it’s there, just under the surface, waiting to cause pain.

Like a celestial star, there is heat involved. A burning sensation in the gut. A tightening of all that was once soft and fluid. It may even pulse and throb with every perceived insult or offense. It can make you sick to attempt to hold it inside, so you try to let it come out, but by then it’s too late, you have a supernova on your hands and all hell is going to break loose. So you try to stuff it back down, but this just makes you want to wretch, so it comes shooting out and whomever lies in its path, perhaps even unsuspecting or undeserving, will be annihilated by its course of destruction.

A client asked me the other day, “You’re always so calm, Bonnie, don’t you ever get mad?” I just smiled and said, “Yes, all the time. Anger management is a constant practice in mindfulness.” There is so much in the world to get upset about. There are threats, real and perceived, that we must face every day of our physical existence. Since we Earthlings are made from stardust, there will always be the potential for anger to form from the inside. What creates anger is essentially the same energy that makes us strong, self-reliant, and powerful. What you begin to learn as you practice mindful awareness of your own natural interior star energy is that the transformation from control to chaos is only a series of thoughts. The thoughts you choose will make all the difference in the experience you create.

Which leads me to this:

I have begun a series of children’s books that I am so excited about, I can hardly contain my star vibrations! They are colorable books that kids can draw in. They each address a difficult emotion and the first one, “The Star Inside,” is all about coping with feelings of anger. I have been using this technique with my own kids for years and now I am excited to share the experience with other parents. Even though the books are designed for young children I’ve found that teenagers and adults seem to really enjoy creating in them as well. If you struggle with feelings of anger or you know a child who does, you may want to consider picking up a copy. If you’re not used to drawing it may seem silly at first, but trust me when I say:

“Your creative expression is the most powerful tool you’ll ever use when it comes to dealing with powerful emotions.”

Much love and peace, fellow star people!

Your Creativity Coach,

Bonnie Kelso is a Creativity Coach who uses Creating as a healing modality. She is the author ofVitalize Your Creative Life, a workbook for engaging with your inner creative child. She also facilitates creativity workshops and classes locally in Las Vegas, NV. She is the creator of the ABCs of Conscious Creating, a guided self-study program that delves deeper into the spiritual realm of your unique creative potential. Are you ready to start right now? Do you have 5 Minutes?

via Daily Prompt: ThornyThorny