There’s a lot of anger in the world at the moment. Do you feel angry at our UK government, you are part of a minority, live in Leeds in 2020, or you’re angry at your neighbour for not taking their bins in, it is all valid anger?
Just because it is valid, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t learn how to deal with it.
Managing your anger means not acting on impulse or irrationally. You might even think that you are being completely rational with where you are directing your anger and to whom. But this is why I believe it is important for every single person to use my steps to validate their anger and actions.
When you don’t use your anger in the right way, everything starts to merge into one, and that is when things that might have seemed petty before, will exacerbate.
When smaller things start to make you angrier and angrier, you begin to have less and less control. And when impulse fuels your anger, this is when your anger can mentally or even physically affect yourself and others.
So, take control over your anger, use these steps, and think rationally and with vigilance.
- Understand your anger
Know that the anger is trying to help direct you to what you need to do. It’s a sign telling you that something needs sorting out.
‘I am angry because I still can’t leave my house!‘
- Reframe it
Rather than running away or seeing it as a bad thing, learn to sit with it as anger will usually want to push people away. Sitting with it will help you to think more rationally and with an open mind, rather than push away anyone else that might try to defy you.
‘I understand that I am really just bored because I haven’t made full use of this time at home‘
- Control it
Start harnessing the power and drive that anger gives you.
‘I like to keep busy, so I need to take control and find more things to do‘
- Act on it
Take action with that drive. It’s a great motivator and gives you a clear sign that something needs to change. And if you have reframed and taken control of the anger, then you can act in a positive and productive way.
‘To keep busy I will create a new routine for myself with things to accomplish each day’
- Feel empowered
This will happen once you start using the anger positively rather than negatively. Anger can turn into a comfortable place when it is being used productively to maximise your full potential.
