I have been meaning to write about Righteous Anger for some time now.  I remember when I was in High School and someone said there is never a place for anger.  I thought that was an incredibly silly statement.

Anger, or what I call “Righteous Anger,” can be incredibly constructive and healing for both parties.  Knowing when to use Anger and when to let it go can take a long time to learn.

It takes a lot to bring me to  a place of Anger.  I’m ashamed to admit that when I was  in my pre-teen years it didn’t take much to bring me to volcanic, stupid anger.  I learned back then that there is “Wrong Anger,” (the kind that serves no purpose except to make you behave and look like an idiot) and “Righteous Anger,” (the kind that can teach me and others to help us move forward.)

So what do I mean by “Righteous Anger.”  Let’s say you go to a restaurant and you made a reservation, even checked twice. You get there and they don’t have it.  What’s more they act like it’s your fault.  Luckily for you, you have an email confirmation.  When you show it to them they still are not accommodating.

It is time for Righteous Anger.  First off you firmly ask for a manager and get just a little loud.  You are angry for being dismissed.  State that you are angry and not because a mistake was made, but because of the attitude of the staff, then ask how they are going to handle their error.  Give them a chance to correct it.

If they don’t correct it to your satisfaction tell them you are not satisfied.

I will then leave and in my righteous anger go on to YELP, Google, Better Business Bureau, Send an email and follow up with a  physical Letter. I will succinctly craft my words to leave out the stupid anger and use the constructive anger with the idea of what I want the letter to do.

Usually, for me, it is an acknowledgement they were wrong and that they will do their best to never let anything like this happen to anyone again.

We all make mistakes!  It is what we do after we make those mistakes that defines us, not that we made the mistake.