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 Mikkelson
Director, 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
- 95-octane gasoline: increases by B/.0.01 per liter
- 91-octane gasoline: increases by B/.0.01 per liter
- Diesel: increases by B/.0.02 per liter
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:
- Costa Arriba de Colón and Guna Yala Comarca, with waves between 1.5 and 2.5 meters high and periods of 8 to 9 seconds.
Central Caribbean:
- Costa Abajo de Colón and Northern Veraguas, with waves ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 meters high and periods of 7 to 9 seconds.
Western Caribbean:
- Ngäbe Buglé Comarca and Bocas del Toro, with waves between 1.5 and 2.0 meters high and periods of 7 to 9 seconds.
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:
- Exercise extreme caution during fishing activities and when swimming.
- Ensure all navigation equipment is in good condition and wear life jackets.
- Vulnerable coastal communities are urged to stay alert to weather conditions.
- Follow all safety rules and guidelines provided by authorities at ports and beaches.
Emergency contact numbers for Sinaproc: 520-4426 / 911 / 6998-4809.
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 José Raúl Mulino announced that several strategic infrastructure projects are currently operating at full capacity, as part of the National Government’s commitment to road development and national connectivity. These include:
- Chitré Interchange
- Bayano Bridge over the Coquira River
- Streets of Colón
- Vacamonte Highway
- Tuira and Chucunaque Bridges
- Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal
Millions of Dollars in Counterfeit Goods Seized in Colón Free Zone
Around 5 million dollars’ worth of counterfeit merchandise was seized from stores located in the Colón Free Zone during simultaneous raids carried out by the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ), in coordination with the Office of the Prosecutor for Intellectual Property and Cybersecurity.
According to the preliminary report, officers found 975 items of allegedly counterfeit branded goods—such as sneakers and sandals—inside one store. Additionally, 5,372 packages containing similar items were discovered in a warehouse owned by the same store.
Although no arrests were made during the operation, authorities emphasized that brand counterfeiting is a criminal offense under Panamanian law, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Authorities stated they will continue operations targeting criminal groups involved in the production, distribution, and sale of counterfeit goods.
Spending 20 Minutes in the Forest Reduces Stress, According to Scientists
Spending just 20 minutes in a forest can be enough to achieve a “measurable” reduction in stress and contribute to “psychological well-being,” according to a study conducted by the Medical University of Vienna.
The research results “clearly show that even a brief stay in the forest improves mood,” said environmental medicine expert Daniela Haluza in a statement released this Wednesday.
Published in the journal Forests on May 8, the study divided 66 adults into two groups. While the first group spent 20 minutes in the Vienna Woods, the other group stayed in an urban environment without vegetation.
Before and after the 20-minute period, researchers took saliva samples from participants to measure cortisol levels, a key stress indicator.
Data showed cortisol levels dropped from about 4 to 2 nanograms per milliliter in those who spent time in the forest.
Additionally, positive emotions decreased by 25% in participants who stayed in the urban environment, compared to a 12% decrease in the forest group — “indicating a notable relief of negative emotions” among those surrounded by trees.
“Our study in the Vienna Woods confirms that forest landscapes close to nature can measurably reduce stress and promote psychological well-being,” Haluza stated.
The research team emphasized the importance of access to recreational green spaces for everyone, “since not all people can frequently hike in the mountains or afford expensive vacations, but a short walk in the forest is feasible for many.”
