Sunday, September 6, 2009

Anger in our everyday lives
By Paraic Walsh

Does anger have a place in the modern world ? Can it be used as a force for good or is it something to be avoided at all costs. We all know the damage it can do in it’s extremes and Anger in Christianity is counted as one of the seven deadly sins.
But anger and anger problems are one of the greatest taboos in today’s world. Nobody likes admitting to an anger problem so much so that anger is barely recognized as a problem requiring intervention

For some with anger problems it is like the beast within and it can quickly take control of it’s host given a set of circumstances or events. The resultant behavior ranges from shouting, damaging property, verbal abuse through to road rage, violence and homicide to name a few.
But how do we control this anger, this force of nature ? Here are some tips

  • Don’t Vent it. Some people believe there is a definite amount of the stuff inside you and by letting it out it’s goes away. In practise the more you get angry the more angry you get and it can be habit forming. If you blow up with your wife this morning you can be snappy all day at work
  • Learn to see it coming from as far off as possible. Learn to observe the signs both physically and mentally. Identify the Self angering thoughts, these are the seeds of anger. When you identify them you can stop and replant new thoughts which will settle your emotions and produce a sense of well being
  • Come up with a plan in advance if you tend to explode from time to time and leave a trail of destruction physically or emotionally ( Which is much more damaging ) of what to do when your anger gets the better of you. The idea is If you’re ready to scream or put a hole in the wall with your fist it’s good to go for a walk, leave the scene of the anger before you do or say something that you will regret afterwards. This can be pre agreed with loved ones or friends.

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