BE SLOW TO ANGER

#anger? #emotions? #FomentingAnger? #media? #MediaConsumption

??????????????? We all get angry at some point.

??????????????? If you are never angry, you may be totally emotionless.

??????????????? But, if you are always angry, it can inhibit rational thinking, decision making and personal interactions.

??????????????? In other words, anger is an emotion we should use sparingly.

??????????????? If everything in the world makes you angry, you may be wise to step back and ask yourself, “why am I so mad at the world?”

??????????????? Then ask, “what can I do to make the world better, not only for me, but also for others?”

??????????????? Certain media are designed to make people perpetually angry, perhaps to the point of rage, and fearful, perhaps to the point of paranoia.

??????????????? People who consume such media believe many things that are actually true are not, and some things that will never be true are indeed true.

??????????????? Of course, they have no evidence to support these beliefs. Their media tell them that things they really don’t want to be true are not, even if they are. And, things they want to be true are, even if they are not.

??????????????? Therefore, anger is often created by some sort of truth-mangling.

??????????????? Still, reality and truth can make one angry. One may lose a job. One may lose a business. One may lose a spouse, or someone else close to him or her.

??????????????? Just because these things are real doesn’t prevent the anger. But, anger over real things allows the angry person the opportunity to mitigate that anger.

??????????????? That can be easier said than done, of course, but at least the person is dealing with something real. The anger, therefore, is rational.

??????????????? But, when one is angry over something that isn’t real, the anger becomes irrational, even though the angry person feels real anger.

??????????????? Some people have no idea why they are angry. They somehow feel put upon, but, presuming no influence from media, they find it difficult to explain, using real terms, why they are angry.

??????????????? If the angry person is also a strong person, he or she can sit back, take a breath and figure out why they are angry.

??????????????? Is all the emotion spent on anger worth the expended energy, stress and lack of well-being, that results?

??????????????? Some, who may not be as strong may need help from friends, family or even professionals if necessary.

??????????????? No, we don’t have to be “nice” every minute of every day. But, the more we make the effort to be “nice,” the better off we will be.

??????????????? Sometimes, the solution may lie in getting back to basics, i.e., love thy neighbor as thyself.

??????????????? Those that think of others first, rather than themselves, often are happier people. They know that thinking of others, and helping others, eventually brings personal joy and reward.

??????????????? So, if one’s first instinct in any interaction is to get angry, take a pause and ask: is this anger rational? If you can find no reason for it to be rational, try to calm yourself. You may find a sense of relief that you do not often experience.

Peter