Learning how to control our thinking may be the most important strategy for us to utilize in order to appropriately manage our feelings, especially our anger. Think about the situations that cause you to become angry. What thoughts were going through your mind at the time? Did your thoughts calm you down or did they feed your feelings of anger? What are the particular physical and psychological signals that indicate you are becoming angry? For example, do you find yourself becoming easily angered when you are tired, under stress or feeling threatened in any way? Does your heart start to beat really fast? Answers to these questions can help you to identify your triggers and cause you to think about how you respond to anger. But you can’t get away with the excuse that “So-and-so made me angry.” The fact is that YOU can learn to control your anger. It may not be easy, but the more you know about your triggers, thoughts and behaviors, the more control you can have over your emotions. (igbattmho.org All Rights Reserved)