Have you seen the slap that broke the internet? Yes, the one where Will Smith goes up on the stage and smacks Chris Rock. The moment will no doubt, go down in history, as one of the most shocking events in the Academy Awards.
Even though Will Smith has issued an apology for his actions, we’re here to address the issue that caused this embarrassment for him in the first place: Anger.
We know how challenging it can be to keep your temper in check. We are pretty sure you, like Will Smith, have done things over the years that have made you embarrassed only because you couldn’t keep your cool.
We’ve thus compiled a list of 9 strategies for you to follow when you’re losing your temper.
So, make some notes and save yourself from future embarrassments!
Take a Step Back
If you find yourself in a position that makes you angry, take a step back and leave the place. You should use this opportunity to clear your mind of all the negative thoughts.
Return to the matter when your head feels lighter and address it in a way that avoids confronting the other person. You’d have to find a way to convince yourself that there is a way to communicate and get things done without harming others.
Think Twice Before Speaking
It’s very easy to let your emotions get the better of you when you’re angry. If you don’t have good control over what you say, you might say something that you’ll regret for a long time.
It’s a good idea to take your time and think, not once but twice, before speaking. Always remember that words that are spoken once, can never be taken back. So be vigilant and don’t say something that you don’t mean.
It’s also a known fact that some words can hurt much more deeply than physical altercations.
Don’t Harbor a Grudge Against Anyone
When you bear a grudge against someone, you bottle feelings of rage and resentment towards them. This buildup of emotions might cause you to suppress happy feelings and grow bitter.
Furthermore, even if the individual is not at fault, having grudges against them might lead to harsh fights.
That’s why, if you make it a practice to forgive others, it will be simpler for you to regulate your emotions by bringing positivity into the situation.
Make Use of a Relaxation Technique
It’s critical to understand which techniques help you relax when you’re angry. When you feel like you’re about to explode, there are a number of breathing exercises you may adopt into your life.
If breathing doesn’t work for you, try to find an exercise you could do which would allow you to be calm. It’s a known fact that exercise can help release hormones that help you with controlling your anger.
We’re not advocating that every time you’re upset, you go for a full-body exercise. Instead, go for a walk or jog whenever your feelings get too much to bear. The walk will help you relax and feel better for the rest of the day.
Find Ways to Make Yourself Laugh
When you feel your temper raising its ugly head, it’s best to come up distractions to lighten your mood. These can be anything from watching your favourite comic on YouTube or looking up memes that crack you up.
This will help you feel less enraged and think more clearly. Furthermore, having a positive mindset might help you recognize that the situation isn’t as bad as you originally thought.
Laughter is one of the most effective ways to deal with anger.
Note Down Your Feelings
When you’re completely burned out in your head and nothing is working to calm your mind down, start writing what you feel.
Writing all your feelings down helps you to address the root cause of the problem that’s causing you so much negativity.
Moreover, writing allows you to release bottled-up emotions and helps you channel them in a way that is beneficial to your mental health.
Identify The Things That Make You Angry
You’d need to start identifying all the situations and circumstances that make you angry. You can never truly find a solution for your anger issues without addressing the reasons why it’s making you angry in the first place.
Once you’ve figured it out, you can devise some techniques that can save you from encountering such situations in the first place.
Address Issues as They Come Up
How many of you tend to not address something that bothers you from the beginning? We’re sure a lot of you have a habit of letting things slide but keep the emotions bottled up. This can lead to an accumulation of negative emotions ready to explode at minor inconveniences.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a conversation and address the issues as they arise. This prevents things from reaching the escalation point.
Speak To a Professional
It’s a good idea to contact a therapist if you’re having trouble controlling your anger and emotions by yourself. You can also attend support groups to gain suggestions from other individuals on how they dealt with their anger.
Regardless of how prepared you believe you are; you may not always have the tools you need to control your anger.
Don’t feel ashamed to ask for help. You should instead take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone in your search for solutions to manage anger.
Wrapping It Up
Anger is one of the most destructive emotions on the planet. It has the potential to create rifts among friends, family, and coworkers.
Anger also has a way of bringing out the worst in you in unexpected ways.
If you’ve made it this far into the post, we’re certain you’re already on the right path to controlling your anger.
While feeling angry is normal, losing control over it definitely isn’t. It’s about time you took control of your anger and saved yourself from embarrassment.
Photo by David Knox on Unsplash