We all get angry from time to time. Some of us could be experiencing this strong emotion right now. It’s perfectly normal to be angry, but we all have to recognise what happens when we let this powerful emotion get the best of us.
When we are in an angry, frustrated or stressful state, our body releases hormones, which includes cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Of course, this is not always a bad thing. Cortisol actually helps regulate blood pressure and the immune system. However, elevated levels could impair your cognitive ability, immune response, and bone density. It could also lead to increased weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
When we are in a calm and loving state, we are in control. Our body and soul work in perfect unison and our spirit flourishes within this beautiful environment. The hormones we produce actually contribute to our health and well-being.
I always say that we shouldn’t feel guilty for feeling angry. We must not punish ourselves for our anger or let it take over and personally punish us. If we allow it to grow, we could harm ourselves and the people we care about. And in some cases, we could end up inflicting more pain, instead of confronting and letting go of what makes us angry.
We have to learn to let go of self-defeating emotions such as anger and the guilt that follows it. It’s impossible to live a happy and healthy life if your head is filled with negative and hostile thoughts. You have to master your emotions; instead of dwelling on circumstances that invoke a negative emotion, take a step back, breathe, and be calm.
When an event or person makes you angry, do your best to put things in perspective and be in control. Focus on what you can do to improve how you feel, instead of wallowing in negativity. You can’t alter the past, but you can always be in control of how you deal with it.
Never allow anger to control what you think, say and do. When you confront the unfortunate experiences that make you angry, do so with openness and understanding. Be a student of life, and learn from each challenge you face. You’ll find that this will help you realise what you must do to ward off negative experiences and become an expert at dealing with life’s unlimited surprises. Ultimately, it will empower you to overcome anger and guilt and master your life at a whole new level.
One of the best things I learned from my parents: Don’t say or do anything that would hurt someone when you’re angry because you might not be able to take it back. So when I’m really angry, I leave to clear my head and come back when I’m all settled.