In Others’ Words: Be Slow to Anger

There’s more to today’s quote than the admonition to grow angry slowly.

Hidden behind those three words is the caution: be slow to anger … because really, not only is there plenty of time to become angry, but given time, you often realize there is no real reason to get angry.

Why do you think we count to ten — or twenty — when our internal temperature is rising? To slow our anger down. 1 … 2 … 3 … 4 … 5 … 6 … 7… 8… 9 … 10.

And breathe. And are you feeling calmer? And is it — whatever it is, whoever it is — worth getting angry about?

Sometimes we have a reason — a right — to be angry. But maybe, just maybe, we go to anger too quickly. We’re fueled by an inflated sense of self — our rights, our injustices — and we don’t take the time to consider where we might be wrong — instead of how we were wronged.

If we take our time … if we grow angry slowly … consider where we are going with our emotions and why … the reality is, the reason to be angry will still be there when we finally  decide “yes, I’m justified in my anger,” right? And if we decide that there’s no reason to be angry, well then we haven’t rushed ahead into a confrontation that we’ll regret.

In Your Words: What helps you grow angry slowly? 

In Your Words: Be Slow to #Anger #InOthersWords #lifequotes
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“Grow angry slowly – there’s plenty of time.” #quotes #RalphWaldoEmerson
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