Is Anger a Constant Companion?

How Short is Your Fuse?

Or perhaps the fuse of someone you know? It seems like everywhere you turn, there they are—the ANGRY people! The people who, for even the slightest little thing, get stark, raving mad. It could be anything—maybe the way you say something, the fact that you were two minutes late, the fact you spilled a glass of water, losing a parking space to someone else, the long line at the supermarket—anything could set the angry person off. Why is this?

Angry people have the anger always inside of them. They’re blockages—unresolved issues that have been tucked away, nice and neat. Except it’s not so nice and neat when something happens that just nips at that blockage. Then the fury is unleashed, and the other person is left to say, “You’re overreacting. I was only five minutes late!” In fact, they are overreacting, but not to your lateness; they’re overreacting to some past event that has been triggered by your being late.

When you think about it, Life is way too short for Anger, let alone, petty anger. Think about how much time is wasted yelling, accusing, attacking . . . for things that a few weeks later, maybe even as little as a few hours down the line, will be forgotten.

If you’re carting around hidden anger (you’ll know this by your tendency to overreact at the smallest things), then you need to take inventory of what you’ve got stocked in your warehouse. If you know someone who’s prone to anger, there’s not much you can do for them. Don’t try to argue your way out of it; it won’t work. Do walk away, if possible, or go to another room, and allow the angry person to cool off. It is something with which they have to deal.

Next time you’re about to get angry, and go crazy over nothing, stop! What are you doing? In the big scheme of things, is it that important? Is that how you want to spend your energy?

I say NO! If you’re going to spend your precious energy, spend it on Love. That’s the most powerful force there is! And that fuse? Just cut it off before it blows, and never light it again! It’s a choice!