Bottled Up

"Get mad, then get over it." -Colin Powell

How often have you seen, heard, or been a part of an incident where people are arguing and one person doesn't speak their mind? They walk away and keep their feelings to themselves, all the negativity and anger. This is most dangerous when you say nothing and harbor the anger you are feeling deep inside. Over time you begin to resent the other person, break away from any meaningful relationship with that person and in extreme cases end up hating them or planning revenge.

Of course it is not wise to react immediately to a confrontation where you find yourself constantly bickering or arguing, but there is a certain value to venting. Does that mean that walking away is a bad idea? No, but this works best for the kind of person who likes to think things over before reacting. You think things over, maybe talk it over with a trusted friend and then decide on the best way to respond.

Too often we harbor anger in our hearts and don't realize the harm we do to ourselves. Keeping the negative feelings of anger inside of us can distract us from doing more constructive things, can cause us to be less aware of our surroundings, and ultimately can make us physically ill. When we are angry at someone else and don't find a way to deal with the situation, it is much like stabbing our own heart and waiting for the other person to bleed.

So don't bottle up your negative emotions. Find a way to express your anger without hurting yourself or others and move forward to healing beyond that incident.

CJ