Managing your emotions, especially anger, can be one of the most difficult things to attempt. It’s not easy to let things go, to let things roll off your back without frustrating you. The important thing to remember is that anger management is not about the suppression or the denial of angry feelings, which can make everything much worse. Anger management is about learning to deal with the angry feelings you have.
We’ve all experienced infuriating moments in our lives, some of us more than others. Maybe you were cut off during a traffic jam, or someone close to you starts conflict for seemingly no reason. Whatever the reasons, anger happens, and it happens to all of us. Don’t worry about feeling angry, just worry about how you confront that anger internally. Here are four anger management tricks that work.
1. Try Forgiveness
Forgiving is extremely difficult, but it’s also extremely powerful when it comes to getting over an issue. If you allow yourself to be continuously bothered by a disagreement, fight, or insult, you aren’t doing anything but feeding your own angry desires. Forgiveness allows you to realize and come to terms with the fact that only you are responsible for the way you feel.
2. Find Your Outlet
Sometimes, anger needs to be dealt with in a positive outlet. If you enjoy playing sports, blow off some steam on the court or the field as a means of anger management therapy.
Even doing menial tasks can help you think through your issues and resolve them internally. Cleaning your apartment or house can be a great outlet for anger; it doesn’t require much thought, and it allows time for reflection.
3. Listen to People
The initial emotions we feel in a situation aren’t always the most trustworthy. If you’re in a debate or argument with someone close to you and things start to heat up, don’t get angry, but focus on listening.
Listening to someone can help you understand their perspective, which will keep you from going immediately into defense mode. If they say something that strikes your personally, take a step back and calmly explain why that isn’t right.
4. Relaxation is Your Mantra
When you’re angry, it feels like the last thing you want to do is relax, but this should be your ultimate goal.
When you start to feel yourself getting upset or mad, start telling yourself to relax. Don’t deny your feelings, but simply acknowledge them, accept them, and move on. This practice will be difficult at first, but things will get easier in time.
When you’re working on anger management, don’t deny yourself the ability to feel those feelings, they are perfectly natural. What matters is how you acknowledge those feelings, and what you do to satisfy them. Learn how to deal with your anger and make it positive.
source and courtesy: dailyvibes.org