Last week, I caught myself snapping at my wife over something trivial, a misplaced glass.
I felt embarrassed and said to myself, “This isn’t me!”
But Chapter 24 of Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots explained exactly what was going on and offered a path out of it.
Dr. Rao reveals that anger and fear aren’t triggered by what’s happening around us.
They come from resistance to our present moment.
When life doesn’t match our expectations, we tense up, tighten our identity, and react, rather than respond.
Imagine progress in your career slows unexpectedly.
Suddenly, you’re not just annoyed.
It’s personal.
You’re fearful that you’re losing relevance.
You get angry at circumstances that challenge your “expert identity.”
I recognize this because I’ve lived it.
In the ’80s and ’90s, my worth was tied to skill, diagnosing circuits, configuring networks.
If things didn’t work, I wasn’t just frustrated, I was afraid: “Can I still do this? Do I belong here?”
Those fears turned into anger when my competence was questioned or disrupted.
Dr. Rao shows that when we cling to an identity, “I’m the fixer,” “I’m the tech guy,” “I’m the strategist,” anything that threatens that identity will trigger anxiety, defensiveness, and even aggression.
But there’s a healthier path.
Dr. Rao teaches:
- Awareness: Notice when anger or fear arises, not as permanent states, but as signals.
- Acceptance: Feel the tension without resisting.
- Release: Let go of the story that keeps you locked in being that person.
I practiced this last week.
When I bristled at that empty glass, I asked myself: “What am I really afraid of?”
I realized it was the deeper fear of being pointless or irrelevant.
I paused.
I took a deep breath.
I responded calmly.
That’s the kind of transformation Chapter 24 offers and exactly what we’ll explore together live with Dr. Rao.
Thursday, July 24 | 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET
Featuring Dr. Srikumar Rao LIVE, ready to dive deeper and answer your questions.
🔗 Reserve your seat
If you’ve ever caught yourself reacting in ways that surprised you…
If you’re curious about what’s behind that anger or fear…
Join us for this powerful conversation.
See you there,
Ted
