He could have paid for the best therapists, gone on silent meditation retreats, focused on gratitude (as Tony Robbins says, “You can’t be grateful and angry at the same time”), but for Eminem it was his anger that made him the real Slim Shady…

Screaming I don’t give a fuck with his windows down and system up

So will the real Shady, please stand up

And put one of those fingers on each hand up

And to be proud to be outta your mind and outta control

And one more time, loud as you can, how does it go? I’m Slim Shady, yes I’m the real Shady

All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating

So won’t the real Slim Shady, please stand up,

Please stand up,

Please stand up — The Real Slim Shady

So we have a choice with our anger, we can…

erase it (the zen approach) or

embrace it (the Eminem approach).

In my opinion most people would probably be better off pursuing the zen approach since there’s a danger in flying too close to the sun because if we lose control we can end up destroying our careers, relationships, and lives…

Baby please come back

It wasn’t you

Baby it was me

Maybe our relationship

Isn’t as crazy as it seems

Maybe that’s what happens

When a tornado meets a volcano

All I know is

I love you too much

To walk away now

Come inside

Pick up your bags off the sidewalk

Don’t you hear sincerity

In my voice when I talk

Told you this is my fault

Look me in the eyeball

Next time I’m pissed

I’ll aim my fist

At the dry wall

Next time

There will be no next time

I apologize

Even though I know it’s lies — Love the Way You Lie

Eminem could have easily ended up dead or stuck in a dead-end job, but instead of letting his anger get the best of him he let it become the best of him.

He took that fire inside of himself and redirected it toward a more productive end by channeling his anger toward a craft.

When his mom wasn’t home, he would blast the stereo and write and write and write…