Over the next few weeks we will be studying excerpts from my book, “FEAR – PROOF” as we look at how damaging fear can be to the Mental component of our Wheel of Life.
“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” ~Mark Twain
Another emotion born out of fear is anger. Anger often rears its ugly head when we are trying to control a person, place or thing we have absolutely no control over.
The devil loves it when we get angry and he tries his best to get us to stay in our anger. Anger is not only devastating to our relationships with others, but it personally “eats up” our mind, body and soul.
Anger is something that must be dealt with immediately and one of my favorite exercises in dealing with it is a process I learned in Alcoholics Anonymous called “name it, claim it, and dump it.”
Name it by admitting you are angry, claim it by narrowing your anger to the person, place or thing you are trying to control, and then dump it by letting go of the situation by writing/journaling about it and turning it over to God and a trusted mentor.
The opposite of anger is serenity and God wants us to live in serenity…accepting the things we cannot change (other people, places, things), changing the things we can (ourselves), and having the wisdom to know the difference (experience).
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference
~Reinhold Niebuhr
Praying for serenity, picturing serenity, planning for serenity and practicing serenity are great ways to overcome anger and to lead a much more productive life.
Proverbs 29:11 (NIV), “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
Additional Scripture to read and reflect upon:Â Psalm 37:8, Proverbs 14:29, James 1:20
What beliefs, thoughts and actions cause you to struggle with anger rising from control issues?
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
