Coping With Anger
How do you deal with anger?
You may be reading this question, afraid to admit that some occasions in your life have made you feel angry. But, you needn’t be wary of acknowledging your anger. Everyone experiences anger at some time in their lives; anger is a normal human emotion. What we do with our anger is when problems can arise.
I bet when you hear the word, anger, you immediately think of an over-reactive person with an explosive temper. Such a person responds to situations by lashing out at others and the world. Think of an unopened bottle of pop: once it has been shaken, the bottle will explode unless the pressure build-up isn’t let out gradually or is removed entirely. The same can happen with people: if we hold on to our anger and bottle it up within us, at some point we can unexpectedly lash out at someone or something – like an explosion. If we keep our anger bottled inside, that negativity stays within us and can indirectly impact all our interactions.
Anger causes a person to act either in a positive or a negative way. Did I say positive? It’s true. Think about it. Passion is positive anger; it is anger harnessed into constructive action. For example, you feel angry that someone or something you care about has been harmed in some way; therefore, you resolve to do everything in your power to prevent such injustice from happening again. This is an example of anger harnessed to bring about positive change.
The next time you feel angry, instead of bottling up the strong emotions inside yourself and letting negativity take hold, release the pressure by using your words. Acknowledge the negative feelings you have; then, move forward. Talk out your angry feelings in a calm and honest way, instead of lashing out. Ask for some space to step away for a time, to cool off and calm down, and to come back when you are more settled down. Or, take time to write out your feelings. Or, talk to a professional. It is important to get the words out and understand the deeper meaning of what is making you angry.
When you are in a negative mood, you may only see the bad things about others and the world, not the good things. Therefore, giving yourself some space and time, and the ability to have a rational conversation, will do justice in your relationship with yourself and with others. Remember, we all experience anger; it is a normal emotion. How we deal with it is what sets us apart.
Are there ways you can deal with anger more positively? Why not think of a few and try them out? Let me know what you find from doing this. I’d love to hear your stories!
Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.
See you at the beach!