Unless you were raised by Mr. Rogers, himself (content warning for some older ways of viewing gender 1:25-1:35), chances are that you didn’t get much education about how to cope with anger. Anger often comes with a sense of restless energy that won’t relent until it’s dealt with, but “dealing with it” in the way that might feel most natural could lead to bricks in windows, fists in walls, and other situations that might get you into more trouble than they’re worth. So, what’s a pissed off person to do? We’ve developed a simple-but-effective go-to strategy for when you’re feeling angry.
Read MoreIn conflict, it’s way too easy to inadvertently ratchet up each other’s anger levels. All it takes is a little bit of negativity, and if you’re not careful, you’ll both be sucked down a rabbit hole of anger and finger-pointing.
Since things can devolve so quickly once a conversation gets heated, it’s helpful to take steps to start off with as big of a positive, warm, and kind buffer as possible.
Read MoreHas your anger ever led to an action you regretted? Maybe you sent a text you didn’t feel great about, maybe some words came out of your mouth more harshly than you’d intended, or maybe your anger came out sideways and you spent some time silently fuming and distracted from your everyday life. Since anger can compel you to take action before thinking, it can be useful to have some tools ready for the next time you’re feeling peeved.
Read More