Emotions like frustration and anger can get the best of all of us. When dealing with children, family members, friends, or even co-workers we'll be put in situations that don't meet our expectations and at times these negative emotions will find their way in.
We owe it to ourselves and others to avoid letting these emotions steer our behavior. Staying cool, calm, and collected will help optimize these relationships as well as result in better outcomes for ourselves.
Here are some strategies that can help de-escalate your emotional state:
- Consider the negative consequences of expressing anger by practicing to be an objective bystander in all situations.
- Take a pause and temporarily remove yourself from the situation.
- Reflect on what's more important: "the thing" or winning the argument about "the thing" and let others be wrong.
- Consider being right, or being happy.
- Ask what is the root cause of your anger: physical harm? disappointment? morality? Something else?
- Ask yourself if there a solution that is advanced by your anger.
- Understand that you will always only have some of the data. What additional information could assuage your anger?
- Learn and practice relaxation techniques like breathing, meditation, and martial arts.
