First, I wanna seize this
opportunity to make a hefty shout out to my friends at Urban Dictionary for
making my week *fist bump to the team*... I thank
God, my friends and family for their unending support. Thank you Solomon for drawing my attention to this earth-shaking, ground-breaking discovery
*sniff* I dedicate *whatever this is* to everyone hustling (*cues music*
everyday I’m hustlin’…), I never hesperredit...
Go here to know what all this 'stories that touch' is all about... (LOL) and for those
who have been wondering what Priscilla means, go here, and here. I know it generally means 'ancient'
(that is, belonging to the good old times...little
wonder), 'worthy' or 'venerable'. Ahmean... show some respect,
people *pops collar* (confession:
I used to think it meant 'dutiful'...shhhhh)
God knows
who comes up with these things...LOL. But on a more serious note, I found out
some of the things mentioned about ‘Priscilla’ are actually true about me.
I say: “you're better off with me in your corner” (I'm not even bragging right
now, it's what it is). People (family, friends, colleagues) say most of the
nice things you just read about ‘Priscilla’ (thank you, thank you, no pictures), but they also say: "you'd better not get on her bad side. Be anywhere
but on her bad side. Seriously, I don't even know what
they mean by that.
I know I get
veeery pissed very fast when I’m kept waiting, when I’m lied to, when someone doesn't ‘deliver’, thus putting me in a comprising situation, etc. But then,
I claim am not a very confrontational person, so I try to guide against being
in any such fracas, ruckus, hullabaloo, ballyhoo, jangle and brouhaha (takes a bow)…
Have you
ever been so angry that you felt some nerves tighten around your brain, throat,
stomach, fists, spinal cord, eyes, jaw, even nails, kidneys, bones? (Now, I’m
kidding).
We all
know what anger is, we've all felt it: whether as a fleeting annoyance or as
full-fledged rage.
Anger clouds
our judgment causing us to momentarily
respond
wildly out of emotion. Sometimes, it can get so intense that we tremble
passionately. Some research suggest that long term and intense
anger has been linked with mental health problems (ward 7 / Yaba, last bustop
to the left…lol), sleep difficulties, digestive problems, colds, flu, cancer,
high blood pressure, heart disease and heart attack. *sigh*
We are human, so it’s normal to get angry every once in a while. I read somewhere that it is actually healthy to blow off steam once in a while, but repeated anger can deplete,
erode and corrode (my words) the human body from inside out.
How then do we lose anger
and keep our reactions to it from escalating to uncontrollable heights?
Here are so many things you
could do:
1.
Take a timeout - Defuse your temper by slowing
down. Before you react, take a moment to breathe deeply and count to 10. If
necessary, step away from the person or situation until your frustration
subsides.
What
I do most times is draft
an email/text/chat (a strong-worded message, if you like). I turn off my wifi,
write whatever to whomever I’m angry at, call them every name in and out of the
book. I save the email, leave it to ‘simmer’ and walk away (time out). Later
when I’m calmer, I take a look at the mail and I am a l w a y s glad it wasn’t sent initially.
Some people
take a timeout to work out. Exercising releases endorphins which create
more positive energy.
Stimulating
your brain can leave you feeling more relaxed.
Whatever works
for you; when you feel you are back a calmer place, state your concerns and
needs concisely and directly but in a non-confrontational manner. Don't try to
control the other party or to hurt them.
2.
Forgive – this might
seem like a herculean task at first but the truth is, you won’t be able to
really move forward until you have forgiven the ‘offender’. Don’t keep a grudge…don’t
give anyone that much power over you and that much space in your mind/heart.
3.
Identify possible solutions – dwelling so much on the cause of our anger won’t do so much in making
anything better. My Bible says “offense will surely come…”(Luke 17:1). So, calm
down, identify possible solutions, and move on to the next offense.
4.
Know
when to seek help
- Controlling anger is challenging to everyone at times. Consider seeking help
for anger issues if your anger seems out of control, causes you to do things
you regret or hurts those around you. Call an old friend, someone who knows you
well, who can hold you accountable. You might also explore anger management
classes.
Usually when we eventually ‘cool
down’, and the whole episode flashes back in our minds, we would wonder how we
allowed ourselves get so angry in the first place.
When I’m very upset, I ask
myself "tomorrow morning when I look back at this, will it be worth this tornado
I’m rousing right now?” This question is my 'auto-reset button'; you should try it.
Unity and faith; peace and progress
xx...
Photo Credits: picgifs.com; chughtailab.com; cmhc.utexas.edu
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