You’ve come to realize that letting your temper run rampant is counterproductive.
Deep down, you want to control your temper.
You want to find constructive ways to resolve situations. But for some reason those alternate approaches just seem to elude you.
Does this sound like you?
If so, and you're truly serious about making a change, you’ll be glad to know that such a change is indeed possible!
In just 7 days, you can choose to learn and apply these strategies and approach life differently. You can discover how to take things in stride. And you can develop a greater appreciation for the viewpoints of others.
Remember you choose the trajectory of where your life is going.
Apply these strategies consistently for a week to learn how to successfully control your temper:
1. Practice meditation. Meditate every day this week. Meditation calms you. This is especially true if you do it consistently. A habitually quiet soul rarely makes room for a bad temper.
Spend a half hour each evening before bed just meditating. Turn on the sounds of the ocean or a trickling river. Avoid letting anything else distract you.
Practice yoga if your body can handle it. Not only does your spiritual energy benefit from yoga, but you also release stress from your muscles by doing the poses.
2. Think before you speak. Stop and Pause, don’t say a word. Walk away if you must. Then depending on how the comment affected you, take 5 minutes to a couple of days before responding to someone. This strategy is very helpful in controlling your temper. You will quickly realize that the responses you choose impact you significantly. Pausing also helps you to think rationally instead of overreacting. Walking away stops the conversation from escalating. This week, Stop ~ Pause ~ Walk away before responding in every situation.
If someone continuously does something to annoy you, avoid getting upset about it. Avoid similar situations and the accompanying annoyances in the future.
After you’ve walked away and calmed down take a moment and play the scene out in your head.
If you acted on what you wanted to say and activated your temper, what would the outcome have been?
How would losing your temper benefit you?
Always take the time to understand the impact of your actions on self.
Take a moment and put yourself in the other person's shoes.
How would you feel if they lost their temper with you?
Always take the time to understand the impact of your actions on others.
3. Weigh the outcomes. What results could you get from choosing to stay calm versus acting out? This is an important question to consider, even before being faced with a trying situation.
Each day this week, ask yourself: Did I allow someone or something to really test my patience today?
Consider how it affected you.
Did you get a headache? Were you having difficulty concentrating for the rest of the day?
You may often find that losing your temper has far-reaching effects. Your conscience may be bothered after you realize how damaging your reaction was.
4. Be introspective. It's important to continue to look within yourself. What really causes you to react irrationally and lose your temper?
It’s IMPORTANT to be honest with yourself.
If you've experienced something painful and are trying to mask it, that could be the cause.
Unresolved negative circumstances can prevent you from truly having inner peace.
As a result, you may develop the tendency to release negative energy in counter-productive ways. Take the time to talk to someone about how you're feeling. Talk to a family member, friend, or even a professional therapist.
Avoid allowing your feelings of frustration to fester and negatively impact your interactions with others.
The goal is to find a place of peace so that no one and nothing can take you out of your peace!
I encourage you to implement these guidelines to find your place of peace.
After practicing these strategies consistently for a week, you’ll find that you’re automatically beginning to change your behavior. Being able to control your temper will enhance your relationships and help you successfully manage difficult situations in the future.
"Choosing the trajectory of your life is within your reach! You have a choice!" - Rosita M. Perez