7 Quick Tips to Help You Handle Anger

Yeah, we could say tensions are really running high these days.  

With good reasons, I suppose.  

And exactly how are we feeling?

• isolated,
• out of our comfort zones,
• perhaps a bit "controlled" and
• some might even say helpless or
• insecure and unsure

Fear and Anxiety keep knocking at the doors of our minds and hearts as well, so the recipe seems ripe to ruffle a few feathers.   

​Divisiveness is racking our country, from hate-filled racism to the mask debate.  Our dear "neighbor" is at wit's end, too, and it doesn't take much to set them off.  

Whether we're on the offensive or defensive end of the shortened fuse, there are a few things you we can do to help ourselves calm down just a bit.  

1. Slowly take a few, very deep breaths!
2. Intentionally relax your muscles.  Stretch a bit. Get some exercise.
3. Hold your tongue, if not alone.  Give yourself time to process the situation in order to respond, not react.
4. Vent to God.  Express yourself.  Rant and rave with your Heavenly Father to blow off steam.
5. Write out  the issue in your journal.  Be solutions-minded.  Brainstorm a bit to see exactly why you lost your cool. 
6. Ask yourself, "What can I learn here?"  Use the conflict to examine your heart and to glorify God.
7. Overlook the offense if possible, forgiving quickly as you remember how much you've been forgiven. ​ 

​

In general, my anger "meter" is a good indicator of my internal condition. Often if I find myself rattled at the smallest thing, I know that it's time for me to slow down and come to grips with what's churning inside.   

Perhaps God's trying to get my attention.  Maybe He'd like me to see an issue from a different perspective.  Or it could be my Father is calling me to mature in wisdom and to understand what it means to operate with the mind of Christ.  Is now the time I learn how to lay down my "rights," hold my tongue, avoid a quick retort, and choose humility and patience instead?  

Putting aside anger doesn't always come naturally or feel easy, but having peace inside my heart and mind are pretty much priceless in my book.  

Have you noticed heightened anger these days, too? Leave me a comment here or shoot me a DM at choose2think@gmail.com if you'd like to chat a bit more.   I'd love to hear from you!

But everyone must be quick to hear,
slow to speak and slow to anger; 
for the anger of man does not achieve
the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20