How to deal with Anger

I often get asked questions like: I get angry very easily. I also don’t like getting angry.... how can I stop being this angry all the time?

Anger can prompt us to protect ourselves from harm, whether physical, emotional, or psychological. Your anger could be alerting you from perceived threats, or it's trying to motivate you to address issues that are not acceptable. So don’t reject your anger, instead ask yourself what is this anger trying to bring your attention towards.

Here is what you can do instead of rejecting your anger, or forcefully trying to calm yourself down:

1. Identify your Triggers first: Using this diagram try to understand where your anger is coming from. 

2. Time out: Nothing in the world is so urgent that it needs to be responded to immediately.  If you feel yourself getting angry, take a step back from the situation. Excuse yourself if necessary and give yourself time to cool down before addressing the issue.

3. Don’t Take it personally: Remember that whatever the other person said or did is not a direct reflection of you. Dwelling on the situation will only make you feel worse about yourself. Instead, focus on finding solutions to the problem at hand. This proactive approach can help you feel more in control and less frustrated.