Rx For Anger: Seven Remedies to Take Anger Out of Your Life
By Tim Murphy

Peace and freedom arrive in your life on the tail end of a warm and gentle breeze. You can draw it in with a positive spirit and it will take comfort within you. Due to the world in which we live, an effort has to be toiled to maintain a positive spirit. I’m here to share with you, that it’s worth every toil of effort. Once you find peace and freedom, you can live your life in the manner which it was intended. A life with no anger lasts longer, lives freely and harbors peace.

Anger is a strong emotion of displeasure and resentment. It has been clinically defined as fear turned outward. It doesn’t come by way of an outside source. It’s a feeling and it comes from within you. Because this feeling births in you, you have the ability to control it. Often you can discard it, weaken it, ignore it, swallow it, and allow it to turn into rage, or stop it before it peeks its ugly head out. Here are seven remedies for anger.

1. Maintain confidence in yourself as a person. Remember that you’re a human being and just how special you are. Protect yourself from any negativity.

2. Remember that you have no control over anything other than yourself. Neither you nor I will ever have the power or ability to change people, places or things. You can change how you perceive them, how they relate to you, and how you choose to react. You always have a choice!

3. When something coming in your direction sparks anger, be quick to look beyond the situation and very slow to react. Consider the person, place or thing that appears to lure you into your feelings. Ask yourself if it’s valid. If it is take a look at it. If it isn’t, dismiss it. Suppose someone just made fun of your red shoes and you’re wearing white shoes? Yes, it’s invalid. If it doesn’t apply, let it fly.

4. Did you know that if you harbor resentment within your being toward another person, that the other person doesn’t feel bad? Resentment is a negative force that starts out like a gray cloud in your spirit. It will soon become a tropical storm. If you’re not careful, this resentment will become a hurricane and cause turmoil in your spirit that you could do well without. Forgiveness is the antidote to resentment. The only one hurting when you carry resentment is you. Get rid of it. Peace is on the way.

5. You are working diligently on your to-do list which has been collecting dust for days. Finally you have a window of time to really get productive. An unexpected event occurs that calls you away from your desk. This can really set you off. You could get angry, complain, stomp your feet and maybe select some vocabulary words you thought you put away. When you are finished venting, what are your options. You can’t change the situation or put it in reverse. Venting didn’t make it disappear. You can however, accept what you can’t change, stay positive and deal with what’s at hand. Adding negativity to your interruption is anything but positive and it will set you up to deal with the unexpected with a less than gracious attitude. If what was on your to-do list was meant to be completed today, it would have been. If it wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t meant to be. Acceptance is the key word.

6. Don’t you love it when you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing and somebody comes at you with a horrible remark, an insulting gesture or total lack of respect? I’m not suggesting you love it. Consider the source and you’ll probably discover this isn’t someone you have great admiration or love for. If this is the case, can they make you angry? Only if you let them. My suggestion is that you quickly recognize that this is their stuff. Never give them the power over your feelings. Any unworthy rudeness or undeserved lack of respect is stuff you needn’t own. Don’t take possession of somebody else’s stuff. Whatever stuff they bring in your direction, see that when they walk away they take it all back with them.

7. Love is a precious gift. It’s also a feeling that comes from within. Can someone make you love them? Of course not. Only if you choose to. Can someone make you angry? Of course not. Only if you choose to.

You are who you are. The only person that has any control over you is you. You have choices. Use them. Make healthy choices and yield your control to no one. The worst thing that could happen is peace and freedom may arrive on the tail end of that warm and gentle breeze.

Tim Murphy is a clinical counselor for adolescents. As a student of the bible, Murphy has woven recovery skills and spirituality together, producing an effective strategy for recovery. Tim Murphy leads a support group through his church, conducts pastoral counseling and teaches life skills to adults. Murphy’s powerful message: “From Crack to the Cross, a journey of hope,” was published in August of ’07. Murphy’s seminars and lectures have eliminated stress out of many hearts and lives and replaced it with peace. He is also a professional motivational speaker. For more information visit Tim Murphy Speaking Services.