The bad: Anger is prevalent in our lives.

Anger is everywhere: at work with clients, customers, managers, and coworkers. 

Daily, we are confronted by anger toward ourselves, others, or those around us. Occasionally, we become angry at ourselves when things do not work out as we had intended. At times, we choose to deny or suppress our anger. There is a price we pay when we do this. Eventually, suppressed anger builds up, and our suppressed anger runneth over.  Sometimes, we direct our anger and frustration toward others to the detriment of our relationships. 

As adults, we hear that someone else has an “anger management” issue. Our best friend tells us, “Around my husband, I must be careful of what I say. I never know when they will be angry.” In our community, I  learned that “Someone was ordered to take part in an anger management class. They went, and nothing changed.  They still get angry and are emotionally abusive.” Family members report, “I don’t feel safe around them. Our children no longer feel safe around their father. I have begun considering ending my marriage.”

As adults, we recall how frustrating it was growing up under our parents’ supervision. Now that we are parents, we know the anger we have experienced raising our children, from the ‘terrible twos” to the “frustrating teens.”

The Good:  A simple “Yes” can be surprisingly effective when confronted with anger. Another person’s anger is simpler to respond to than we may believe.