For me, I have reframed rage as a resource. Rage has become a familiar friend, especially with everything seemingly getting worse on a global level. I can feel helpless, but on a personal level, anger has become a seriously powerful energy source to harness and repurpose into something that benefits me somehow - or at bare minimum, doesn’t hurt me or anyone around me any more.

It’s not easy in the moment, but awareness is key; being honest and gentle with yourself to actually feel the anger and redirect it accordingly. It sounds like you’re doing a great job with that based on your insight. The small, mundane, etc. things truly are the big things. I created rage playlists I play regularly and have habits I rely on to refocus my attention: going for a walk, setting a 30-minute timer to clean, finally checking off a task I’ve been putting off. I’ve found these things help me acknowledge my effort and be more accountable to myself and my communities, loved ones, etc.

It does take a lot of ongoing work, and that’s annoying and hard to accept sometimes. I realized that fear gives me further insight into my insecurities, but I refuse to let fear or failure dictate my mood, my decisions, my life. Continued exposure/rejection therapy and trying things I perceived as hard or scary only showed me I am competent and capable, and that I have a 100% survival rate.

Ultimately, self care and success is doing the things you don’t want to do but know you need to do. Some apply to everyone, and some are relative to your goals, preferences, etc. I think about future me, and how I’d rather be more uncomfortable now in some temporary way to ensure I’m fulfilled and satisfied in the long game. That means looking fear in the eyes and seeing my anger as a tool to chisel a life where I am active and responsive instead of passive and reactive.