Why we shout in Anger

I heard variations of this delightful story. If you haven't heard it before, read my version.

 

A Mystic was visiting a river with his followers and saw a group of family members on the other side washing their laundry and shouting angrily at each other. He turned to his followers and asked.

'Why do people in anger shout at each other?'

They thought for a while and one of them said, 'Because when we get angry, we lose our temper.'

'But why shout when the other person is just next to you? Speaking the words softly will still get the message through.' said the kindly man.

And the the Mystic explained,

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts are distant. To cover that distance they believe that shouting makes them able to get their messages across. The angrier they are, the farther they are apart and that is why they must shout louder.

But when two people fall in love they don't shout but talk softly to each other because their hearts are very close and there is no distance between them.

The saint continued, 'When you are in total love with another and she with you, what happens? You only need to whisper. Sometimes there is not even a need to talk, you only need to look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.

'So when you argue do not let your anger overwhelm you. Do not say words that push you further apart. Because a day will come when the distance is sadly so great that you will not find the way to return.'