Recently I’ve watched multiple people struggle with simple frustrations in their lives. Ranging from difficulties in traffic to conflict with a loved one, all these people seemed to share one trait in common. When faced with a situation where they were powerless they were overwhelmed with anger. And not just simple annoyance, but the kind of anger that results in name calling, rude gestures and swearing on a level that would make a sailor blush.
Why would people act this way? It seems that when we reach our limit we revert to that primitive part of ourselves that solves problems by fight or flight. Once there we quit thinking rationally and perceive the source of our frustration as a threat equal to a wild animal. Adrenaline pumps into our blood stream, our attention focuses on the source of the problem and we enter that semi-psychotic state where raging on someone makes complete sense.
For those battling with this problem there are a few interventions that can help relieve the issue. First, breathe. Simple as it sounds taking slow deep breaths really does have a calming effect. The odd part is, simply refocusing and deciding to take action can start the healing process. Second, have friends that won’t feed your anger. There are those who believe that being supportive means agreeing with negative thinking. This just fans the fire of resentment and makes it that much harder to change. Finally, if you are really serious, take 10 minutes every morning and night to meditate. Experience has shown that this daily practice has a calming effect on both our thinking and feeling.
Have a great month.
John
Why would people act this way? It seems that when we reach our limit we revert to that primitive part of ourselves that solves problems by fight or flight. Once there we quit thinking rationally and perceive the source of our frustration as a threat equal to a wild animal. Adrenaline pumps into our blood stream, our attention focuses on the source of the problem and we enter that semi-psychotic state where raging on someone makes complete sense.
For those battling with this problem there are a few interventions that can help relieve the issue. First, breathe. Simple as it sounds taking slow deep breaths really does have a calming effect. The odd part is, simply refocusing and deciding to take action can start the healing process. Second, have friends that won’t feed your anger. There are those who believe that being supportive means agreeing with negative thinking. This just fans the fire of resentment and makes it that much harder to change. Finally, if you are really serious, take 10 minutes every morning and night to meditate. Experience has shown that this daily practice has a calming effect on both our thinking and feeling.
Have a great month.
John
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