"Je ne l'ai pas dit, ma colère a grandi"

When you keep your anger bottled up instead of expressing it, it tends to get worse. It festers inside you, growing bigger and more powerful over time. This idea comes from the understanding that unspoken emotions don't simply disappear—they have a way of intensifying.

Historically speaking, this concept has been around for ages. The idea that keeping feelings inside can be harmful is widely recognized. Think about those old-school, stiff-upper-lip types who never let anyone know how they were truly feeling. They might have looked calm on the outside, but inside, they were a storm.

Let me give you a real-life example. Picture a workplace scenario where an employee, let's call her Jane, feels like her boss is constantly overlooking her contributions. Jane's frustration grows each time she's left out of important meetings or her ideas are credited to someone else. Instead of addressing her concerns, she stays quiet. She doesn't want to rock the boat or come off as a complainer. Over weeks and months, what started as mild irritation becomes full-blown resentment. She starts dreading going to work, her productivity drops, and she even starts snapping at her colleagues for minor things. Eventually, the bottled-up anger affects her mental health and job performance, leading to a breakdown.

So, what can you do to avoid being like Jane? The key is to find healthy ways to express your feelings. This doesn't mean you need to confront people aggressively or make a scene. Sometimes, it's as simple as having a calm, honest conversation. Other times, it might mean writing your thoughts down in a journal to sort through your emotions first. You could also talk to a trusted friend or a therapist. The idea is to let the steam out of the pressure cooker before it explodes.

Imagine you're in a relationship—romantic, familial, or even a friendship. Your partner does something that bothers you. Maybe they forgot your birthday or made plans without you. Instead of stewing in silence, risking that the anger grows into something that could damage your relationship, take a moment to cool off. Then, gently bring it up. "Hey, when you forgot my birthday, it really hurt me. Can we talk about it?" It might feel awkward at first, but addressing the issue head-on is almost always better than letting it fester.

A relatable story to illustrate this? Picture a man named Tom. Tom's neighbor, Bill, keeps parking his car in front of Tom's house, making it difficult for Tom to back out of his driveway. At first, Tom shrugs it off. No big deal, he thinks. But Bill keeps doing it, day after day. Tom grits his teeth every morning, feeling that twinge of anger turn into a full-blown rage. Finally, Tom snaps—he yells at Bill one morning, causing a huge scene. Bill, taken aback, apologizes but is clearly hurt by the outburst. If Tom had just mentioned it casually the first time it bothered him, "Hey Bill, it's a bit tricky to get out when you park there," the anger wouldn't have had a chance to grow.

So, next time something bugs you, think about addressing it early. It'll save you a lot of grief—and maybe even a friendship or two.