Responding to Anger

Some people have such wise minds and tranquil spirits that they remain calm and forgiving no matter what the provocation. I'm not like that. Most of us aren't. When someone insults, inconveniences, disappoints, betrays, or annoys us, we tend to get angry.

Maybe it's just a brief irritation. Maybe it's seething resentment. It could become screaming rage, or stony rejection. Often we feel the desire to punish the person who has angered us, even if only in a small way. Return the insult. Refuse to help. Start an argument. Get revenge.

Don't Tell Me To Calm Down!

I was on the phone with a family member (not my husband) who was talking very fast, giving me a list of complaints about things that weren't my doing, and talking over me when I tried to respond. In an effort to get him to listen to me, I said, "Calm down," and he immediately snapped, "I'm not upset, so don't tell me to calm down!"

Yeh, right.