How do you Handle your Anger?
By josefina
@josie_ (10032)
Philippines
October 22, 2022 9:28am CST
A hermit's meditation was interrupted by a pesky inquirer who sought him out to ask for advice. The master answered several of life's hard questions without hesitation. However, when asked how to handle anger, he broke his walking staff in half and bellowed, "Do you think I'd be living alone in this deserted place if I had the answer?
We think of anger as something negative that needs to be controlled. But by itself, it is neither good nor bad. It is just a feeling that wells up in us without warning or conscious effort on our part. Unfortunately, we often express anger in the most inappropriate manner and would come to regret it later.
No one is perfect. Nothing wrong with being occasionally irritable, grumpy, or indignant. Even a pressure cooker needs to release steam. Else, that anger intensifies into rage and fury. Relationships are especially vulnerable. The mishandling of anger can escalate into violence.
Then there are those who prefer to avoid conflict or confrontation with others by keeping their anger bottled inside. But that only leads to more resentment and unhealthy stress.
The martial artist Bruce Lee once said, "Be like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes a cup."
Anger, like water, is formless and shapeless. You are the creator of its form and shape.
Or, you can always go to the gym to work off your anger.
Any other advice on how to handle anger?
11 people like this
11 responses
@andriaperry (118747)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Oct 22
I work.when I'm angry I can clean my kitchen spotless
4 people like this
@crossbones27 (50806)
• Mojave, California
22 Oct 22
I just do what the lady does in the picture hit them over the head with a frying pan. I need to stop making bad jokes. got me in trouble on Facebook and funny thing is so mellow compared to when I was 23. No actions anymore words get you in trouble. I am going to be all proper from this day forward. Come on that was funny. 
3 people like this
@crossbones27 (50806)
• Mojave, California
23 Oct 22
@jstory07 Thanks miss lady. My five bucks is in the mail.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (144772)
• Roseburg, Oregon
23 Oct 22
@ctrossbones27 I like you just the way you are.
2 people like this
@Fleura (31848)
• United Kingdom
2 Nov 22
Anger, like hate, mostly eats away at the person who is angry. I try to see the bigger picture, imagine how small this issue is in terms of the world, and how insignificant it will seem in a few years' time.
Of course that only works for more minor things. If my parents or children were murdered for example it would be hard (and indeed abnormal) not to be angry!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (228002)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Oct 22
I used to write short stories and poems. In the short stories, there would often be a "bad guy" or a bad "ethos" that I poked fun at. Cycling or other exercise works as well. "Happy chemicals" are released in our brain when we exercise.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36642)
•
3 Nov 22
Sometimes like that lady in the photo. 
But mostly, I try to avoid confrontations which might make me upset and cause more stress than necessary. If someone is bothering me, I will try to understand their point of view and where they are coming from rather than flying off the handle.
Very interesting comments which I agree with totally!
But mostly, I try to avoid confrontations which might make me upset and cause more stress than necessary. If someone is bothering me, I will try to understand their point of view and where they are coming from rather than flying off the handle.
Very interesting comments which I agree with totally!1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4830)
• Philippines
21 May
When I was a kid there was a situation which made me so angry like I almost blacked out from it. That was the time I decided never to get angry again because it's scary I might hurt people. Lol. And yep it worked for more than a decade since then and I was like that until the pandemic happened.
During that time I was not able to go to mass every Sunday anymore due to the lockdowns, and I didn't bother with online masses. I thought that was just fine. People were panicking and getting depressed but I was just chill. Eventually my life started going downhill slowly but surely. That includes having the feeling of rage inside me especially when my pride gets hit. I would not just get irritated at someone or something somebody did, I would have an angry outburst. I would even start cursing the people who were bad to me. Even online I would be all mad and such. 
At times I would get shocked on why I was suddenly turning into a "monster". 
It happened gradually since the pandemic and I thought it was just nothing until I eventually realized the devil was stealthily bringing me to the dark side.
To cut the long story short, I was able to get rid of the deep-seated anger (or wrath, which is one of the 7 Capital Sins) by doing frequent confession (after a general confession using an Examination of Conscience), daily prayers (rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, etc.), regular visits to Jesus in the Adoration Chapel and never missing Sunday mass and Holy Days of Obligation. Glory to God in the highest! 
That was the time I decided never to get angry again because it's scary I might hurt people. Lol. And yep it worked for more than a decade since then and I was like that until the pandemic happened.
During that time I was not able to go to mass every Sunday anymore due to the lockdowns, and I didn't bother with online masses. I thought that was just fine. People were panicking and getting depressed but I was just chill. Eventually my life started going downhill slowly but surely. That includes having the feeling of rage inside me especially when my pride gets hit. I would not just get irritated at someone or something somebody did, I would have an angry outburst. I would even start cursing the people who were bad to me. Even online I would be all mad and such. At times I would get shocked on why I was suddenly turning into a "monster". It happened gradually since the pandemic and I thought it was just nothing until I eventually realized the devil was stealthily bringing me to the dark side.
To cut the long story short, I was able to get rid of the deep-seated anger (or wrath, which is one of the 7 Capital Sins) by doing frequent confession (after a general confession using an Examination of Conscience), daily prayers (rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, etc.), regular visits to Jesus in the Adoration Chapel and never missing Sunday mass and Holy Days of Obligation. Glory to God in the highest! 
@Nakitakona (57008)
• Philippines
27 Nov 22
When I get angry, I usually burst. And I have realized it that it's not good. It becomes worse. I try to count 1 to 10 until it subsides and sometimes it works.
I remember what my late mother advised me when we had a quarrel with my wife. She simply said to be a water if my wife becomes a fire. And I follow it and I always ask for forgiveness of my misgivings or mistakes Now I am happy or we are happy that our married life so far has reached 50 years as of this writing.
