Listening to my client’s stories of pain, anger, anxiety, fear, or depression, I noticed the same themes and patterns repeated time and again. I heard about resistance, injustice, powerlessness, and pain—manifesting as anger, unhappiness, stress, anxiety, and fear. I recognized and observed a recurring pattern of destructive tendencies in each story. Repeatedly, it seems to me that there are core factors that lead a person to experience painful emotions such as unhappiness, anger, anxiety, stress, and other forms of emotional suffering.

I have identified four simple factors that are consistently present when someone experiences emotional suffering, regardless of the scale. When this pattern emerges, it is as though the person begins to let “RIPP” upon the world. The four factors of RIPP are:

1. Resistance
2. Injustice
3. Powerlessness
4. Pain

Together, these four equal RIPP.

I work with clients to help them resolve many issues, including anger, acute unhappiness, anxiety, complicated grief, angst and periods of depression caused by difficult life circumstances. These issues—which I refer to as “RIPPing” or “letting RIPP”—cause deep anguish and suffering. Clients often wonder why, despite being efficient, practical, successful, and intelligent in other areas of their life, they cannot work out how to escape their suffering or stop RIPPing.

When we develop internal, empowering ways to deal with life’s challenges and injustices—no matter how big or small—everyone benefits, not just us. Our anger or unhappiness no longer spills out into the world or contributes to the vast pool of unconscious and destructive behaviors.

My clients report how powerful this work has been for them: they feel happier, less stressed, and no longer angry. Their relationships have become stronger and more loving, and they describe a sense of peace they’ve never felt before.