Anger and Intolerance are the Enemies of Correct Understanding

“Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding” – Mahatma Gandhi.

The quote above speaks to the importance of understanding in our relationships, including the relationship we have with ourselves and the world around us. Understanding anger and intolerance mean that we can channel them into constructive, not destructive, actions. It also means that we can more effectively empathize with people who are angry or intolerant and help them find constructive solutions instead of destructive ones. Learning to understand others may take time and effort, but it can certainly pay off in the long run.

Anger:

Anger is often defined as an emotional state, particularly one that gives you a great deal of energy. Anger can feel liberating because it provides a sense of purpose to your life in the face of adversity, whether or not your anger is justified. It’s natural for humans to get angry when they’re wronged; the problem is when we allow our anger to rule us instead of vice versa. When we allow our rage to control us, rather than using it as a tool for defence, there’s a risk that we will lash out at others and make mistakes in judgment. There’s also the danger that we will be too stubborn or too proud to admit defeat when we should concede defeat and just let go.

Types of Anger:

The word anger can refer to many different types of anger:

Assertive:

In an assertive state, you feel confident about yourself and your abilities. You can listen to the needs of others and act on them appropriately. You can also express your own needs and desires with confidence, as well as ask for help when needed.

Behavioral:

The most common form of anger is the behavioral type. This type involves actions that are destructive to others, such as verbal and physical abuse. Another form is the hostile reaction, which can take on a variety of behaviors including sarcasm, name-calling, and fighting. The aggressive response involves hostility towards oneself or someone else with deliberate action. Finally, passive-aggressive reactions involve indirect ways to express one’s anger such as procrastination or sulking.

Chronic:

A chronic level of anger can be caused by many different factors. Sometimes it may be the result of an external event or a traumatic experience, but other times it may have nothing to do with anything specific.

Judgmental:

The most common type of anger is judgment. This type of anger is when a person becomes angry because another person did something that they disapprove of, or doesn’t do something the way they would have done it themselves. Judgmental anger usually has a lot to do with how we feel about ourselves and how we want others to see us. It can also be caused by jealousy, feeling threatened, or being overwhelmed. Judging other people usually comes from comparing oneself to others, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy.

Overwhelmed:

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and there’s no way to relieve yourself from it. You may have trouble sleeping or concentrating, and that can lead to other problems.

Passive:

The passive type of anger is often the least seen and least experienced type of anger. This type is characterized by a person who does not lash out at their target, but rather just holds it all inside. The passive type may even have a harder time recognizing that they are angry because they don’t outwardly show any signs and there is not a direct target for the source.

Retaliatory:

There are many types of anger. One type is Retaliatory, which is the desire for revenge. This type causes people to spend an excessive amount of time thinking about or planning ways to hurt those who have wronged them.

Self-Abusive:

Self-harm is a form of self-abusive behaviour, often used as a coping mechanism for trauma. It can also be used to release built-up anger, or as an attempt to punish oneself. 
Self-harm may include any type of physical harm to the body by one’s own hands. This includes: cutting, burning, hitting oneself with objects, biting one’s own skin (known as morsing) and head banging.

Verbal:

This type of anger is when people yell and speak to the point where they are basically yelling at each other. Physical anger will not happen because it’s verbal, but there could be a physical altercation if one person attacks the other verbally. The two types of angry people can also just talk to themselves or shout in their own homes instead of addressing the problem with another person.

Volatile:

This is a quick and powerful burst of rage. It is usually fueled by intense emotions such as rage, frustration, or despair. In this type of anger, you feel like you are going to explode. You may even have physical symptoms that accompany your feelings of rage such as sweating, heavy breathing, heart palpitations, and shaking hands. The way volatile anger can be channelled is to allow yourself some time alone to calm down.

Intolerance:

The definition of Intolerance is the dislike or disapproval of someone who has different customs, ideas, etc., especially because they do not conform to your own beliefs or standards. It can also be defined as a feeling that is hostile to anyone who is not a member of your group (political party, nation, ethnicity).
Tolerance can be seen in different ways as it is based on many cultures, religions, philosophies and societies. It has been argued that patience is not just about accepting others but it also means accepting oneself and being open to new experiences. As with any human emotion, there are levels of tolerance, from low-level anger/frustration to extreme anger/hostility. Anger and intolerance are often found together as anger is one of the most common emotions we experience throughout our lives.

Mahatma Gandhi says Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding. When someone is angry, it causes their thoughts to not be very clear, which causes them to miss out on key points in what the other person has said. Anger also makes it difficult for a person to think clearly and correctly understand the situation. Intolerance can also cause one’s thoughts to not be clear because they are too concerned with the anger they feel towards something or someone. They are unable to see the truth or correctness in what they are doing and do not take into account all of the facts before making a decision. Therefore, tolerance is just as important as understanding when trying to figure out an issue. 
I believe these two things work together like a cycle: once you become intolerant, you may get angry at whatever you find wrong with the situation, and then your anger will cloud your thoughts causing you to miss critical points about how to solve the problem until you have calmed down again. Once you’re able to listen calmly and try to understand the other person’s side of the story, you can discuss what needs to happen for both parties involved in the conflict to be happy. If someone does not want to be tolerant, then there won’t be any chance for them at solving anything because they are so stuck on themselves and their anger that nothing else matters. Tolerance is the way to go if you don’t want misunderstandings. It isn’t always easy to put aside personal feelings and biases, but by taking the time to step back from your emotions, you can better understand others. To conclude, anger and intolerance are enemies of correct understanding. I believe this because when people are angry, they can’t think clearly and make the right decisions. Anger clouds their thoughts and prevents them from listening to others who may have information that could help them figure out a solution. If somebody is intolerant, they will most likely get angry which in turn only furthers the misunderstanding between both parties involved in the argument. As long as you remember that patience and tolerance need to exist for everything to be solved, I believe understanding will come sooner rather than later. With anger comes missed opportunities and with intolerance comes missed chances to learn more about yourself and others. The main thing to remember is that patience and tolerance need to exist for everything to be solved. That way, it’s easier to put aside your feelings and bias against the other person so you can understand their point of view. You need to calm down and let your mind focus on what the other person is saying instead of getting caught up in your anger. Once you’ve cooled off, try discussing solutions with them instead of waiting until you’re frustrated again. By putting aside your anger and intolerance, you’ll have an opportunity to hear new information from them. Who knows? You might even find a solution that makes everyone happy! Some of the best quotes that I know say many wise words, such as Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.-Mahatma Gandhi.