Self-Regulate!

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16: 32 New King James Vision.

If shouting and tantrums are getting the best of you and you seem to be losing your focus on what makes you happy, there is a probability that you are giving your angry emotions an upper arm in your life.

Anger isn’t a bad emotion. Anger that isn’t well directed can be disruptive. Anger not managed well can ruin your day, relationships and colour your perspectives.

So what’s the best way to manage your angry emotions especially when you are passionate about maintaining a positive mental well being?

You need to first recognise what anger is to you.

What makes you angry?

Personally, I get angry when I sense that my value system is being undermined or taken for granted. I feel angry if I had an agreement with someone to get something done and it’s left undone. In summary, I feel my angry moments are prompted when my expectations are dashed!

When these things happen, I find out that I react instead of responding.

When I react, I yell. I get into a low mood, and speak in a really loud tone and get anxious. This is usually not good for my health or for the recipient because I have observed that even though I do not use abusive words in moments of anger (something I consciously trained myself to do from my teenage years), the mere fact that I am ‘shouting’, can frightened the next person and move them into their shell or make them uncomfortable to relate with me.

So you see how anger can affect a person and a relationship. If this circle of reactions are not tamed, they can evolve into bigger issues like a low self-esteem, negative thoughts patterns, a laid back altitude…to say a few.

So I took a resolve. I am not going to allow the negative outburst of anger make me seem like a fool. “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9 KJV

I will self-regulate. I will insist on self-control. How?

• I will remind myself that I can’t stop people from acting the way they want, but I can determine what my response to them will be.
• I will be patient with people. I will allow them be themselves. If I can’t get to work with them to get productive results, after trying to insist on the goal, then, I need to let them go. My mental health is priority. I won’t let negativity gain access to my mind.
• I will relax. I will learn to rest. Take some break off work if the tension is getting to me.
• I will go for a long walk to easy tension and breath in fresh air and get a different perspective to issues before attempting to speak on them.
• I will choose my emotions carefully. In anger, I can still choose to be graceful. In anger I can still correct, but in love. I will choose love, that desire to contend for the highest possible good for the next person. I will choose love over angry emotions.

How do you intend to manage your angry moments in 2021?

Here’s cheering you into the new year with great hope, peace and love.

My name is Precious, I was Bipolar and I live a full life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please make me slow to anger. Give me grace to control my emotions no matter what happens. Lord, I choose to draw strength from You, because you are more than enough for me. In Jesus name, Amen.