Encourage Me: Anger Management

If you regularly “fly the friendly skies” for the purpose of work or pleasure, you realize that it’s not always peaceful inside the passenger cabin (before one arrives at their destination).

According to NBC4 Today at 5am, your complaints have been heard (and rightfully noted) concerning the airline industry. Below are the top five reasons (from worst to least) that airline travelers may find this form of transportation unpleasant.

1. Passengers kicking your seat

2. Passengers reclining (in their seat) too far

3. Loud passengers

4. Crying babies of other passengers

5. Passengers taking up too much space (for their carry-on items in the overhead bin[i]

Life will always be full of frustrations. Often it’s more important how one handles those challenges than the object that is causing the irritant.

You Heavenly Father want His children to live joyfully. Here are a few tips on achieving that in the midst of a strife-filled world.[ii]

1. “Bridle you anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes – it only makes things worse.” (Psalm 37:8)

2. “God is all mercy and grace – not quick to anger, is rich in love.” (Psalm 145:8)

3. “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper fire.” (Proverbs 15:1)

4. “Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs – cross them and they bite your head off.” (Proverbs 20:2)

No one in this world is exempt from losing their temper. Life (in all its unpredictability) happens. Stopping your irritation when it’s just begun (at simmer) is much easier to discontinue that you when are in the midst of a heated disagreement (at full boil).

I’ve learned it is very difficult to get in a screaming match with someone, who remains calm the whole time as they whisper their objections.

Another great exercise to try is to picture the other person as an angry customer, and you are the clerk (that will lose their job if they respond to the other person loudly and angrily with their unpleasant inner thoughts).

Whatever you do remember that you are not alone in the use of anger management; no one is perfect. If you are a follower of Christ, your goal is to always become more like Him (than the opposite). The reality is that some days are better than others.