Anger; Fuel Prices Will Increase in Panama; Forest Reduces Stress.

Friday, May 30, 2025. Anger: The Tool We Mistake for Truth I just finished reading The Courage to Be Disliked, a book grounded in Alfred Adler’s psychology, and I have to admit, it hit me harder than I expected. One particular concept grabbed me and refused to let go: Anger is not a real emotion, it’s a tool. That simple sentence forced me to take a hard look at myself, and what I found was both uncomfortable and illuminating. It helped me realize that what I often thought was “anger” was actually something else, embarrassment, shame, or even fear of being wrong. And instead of expressing those vulnerable feelings, I’d react with anger, as a way to control the situation or silence the criticism. I’m writing about this not to lecture anyone, but to offer a mirror, to get others to pause and ask: “When I get angry, what am I really trying to do?”“Am I protecting myself, or am I avoiding something?” Because once you begin to recognize anger as a tool, it changes everything. Anger Through the Adlerian Lens Alfred Adler believed that people are not driven by their pasts, but by their goals. From that view, anger is not a spontaneous eruption, it’s a chosen strategy, often used to manipulate, deflect, or assert dominance. Let me give you a real example from my own life:When my wife tells me, oh so gingerly, that I might be gaining some weight, I “get angry.” But it’s not anger that I truly feel. It’s the sting of truth I didn’t want to hear. It’s guilt for not doing what I know I should. It’s shame for being caught off guard. So, instead of saying “you’re right,” I act out. Loudly. Emotionally. In a way that gets her to stop talking and makes her feel like maybe she’s the one who’s wrong. That’s not emotion. That’s a play.That’s not anger. That’s a tactic. Stoicism: Anger is Judgment, Not Truth The ancient Stoics understood this dynamic too. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor-philosopher, wrote: “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it, and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” To the Stoic, anger is the result of poor judgment. Not a fire from the outside, but a storm of misperception on the inside. Epictetus even warned that he who angers you controls you. Both Adlerian and Stoic thought converge on one core truth: We may not control what we feel, but we do control how we interpret and express it. Reflection vs Reaction So why does this matter? Because we live in a world drowning in reaction. Social media, politics, family dynamics, everyone seems ready to explode at the slightest disagreement. But if even a few of us paused to ask why we’re angry, what we’re really trying to achieve, we might find our way back to reason. And to each other. I write about anger as a tool because I believe we all need to become more aware, not just of how we use it, but how others use it on us. Whether it’s a manipulative partner, a demanding boss, or even a well-meaning loved one, anger can be a weapon. Recognizing that doesn’t make us cynical, it makes us wise. And What About Sadness? Some emotions, though, don’t fit this mold. When someone close to you dies, for example, sadness isn’t a tactic, it’s a collapse. Tears don’t manipulate; they mourn. Even the Stoics acknowledged the reality of grief. They never said “don’t feel,” only “don’t be ruled.” So no, not all emotions are tools. But anger? More often than not, it is. Final Thought This isn’t about denying your emotions. It’s about owning them, and choosing how to use them or not. Once you recognize anger as a tool, you’re no longer its tool. You can drop it. Speak plainly. Let truth breathe. And when someone tries to weaponize anger against you, you’ll see it for what it is: not power, not righteousness, but strategy. That’s the moment real control begins.  That’s the moment we stop being ruled by emotion and start living with intention. Brett MikkelsonDirector, B.M. Investigations, Inc. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Fuel Prices Will Increase in Panama Starting This Friday, May 30 The National Secretariat of Energy announced that starting Friday, May 30, 2025, at 6:00 a.m., new fuel prices will take effect in Panama and will remain in place until Friday, June 13, at 5:59 a.m. New Fuel Prices in Panama READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Sinaproc Warns of Increased Swells and Rip Currents in the Caribbean The National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) has announced that the advisory for swells and rip currents along the Caribbean coast will remain in effect until Friday, May 30. The following areas will remain under surveillance: Eastern Caribbean: Central Caribbean: Western Caribbean: The Panama Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Imhpa) reported that trade winds over the Caribbean Sea have intensified, increasing both the frequency and height of waves, resulting in rough seas and rip currents along beaches and coasts. In response to these conditions, Sinaproc issues the following recommendations: Emergency contact numbers for Sinaproc: 520-4426 / 911 / 6998-4809. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE President Mulino Highlights Progress of the Panamá Tunnel Boring Machine and Line 3 Metro Tunnel During a press conference, President José Raúl Mulino emphasized progress in public infrastructure, with special focus on the Metro Line 3 tunnel project, being executed by the Panamá tunnel boring machine. The president reported that, to date, the tunnel boring machine has excavated 1,132 linear meters of tunnel, reaching a depth of approximately 50 meters beneath the waters of the Panama Canal. He explained that this represents 25% of the total tunnel length, describing it as a “significant advancement” given the short time since work began. He also noted that the project is progressing steadily, operating 24/7 with the goal of completing and launching the monorail that will connect Panamá Oeste with the capital city. President Mulino Announces Nationwide Infrastructure Projects in Full Execution On Wednesday, President