Rage seems to be all the rage lately. Look around; it’s not difficult to conclude that the world is getting angrier and angrier.
Once you start looking for anger, you see it everywhere.
Recently a Fort Worth area woman angerily dialed 911 to report that she didn’t get extra shrimp in her fried rice order.
Now that’s really something to get steamed about.
Our politics are angry -- dominated by Obama-haters, Sotomayor-haters and all other kinds of haters. They are proud of their rage and eager to broadcast it.
You can catch angry talk 24/7 on television and radio -- and the internet. Anger attracts the angry.
Lately the political discourse is very disturbing. When Rush Limbaugh states that our President is more dangerous than al-Qaeda (who killed thousands of Americans), he just gets the wackos stirred up and angrier.
Closer to home it’s angry drivers getting upset with folks on scooters, angry Little League parents upset with Little League board members, residents tired of collecting others’ trash from their yards, people criticizing and hating new ideas simply because they want to be obstinate --the list goes on and on.
Someone told me a long time ago that anger is like throwing a rock at a wasp’s nest.
Hostility is toxic. And risky. People most prone to anger are almost three times more likely to have a heart attack than those with low anger, according to the American Psychological Association.
Wow, who knew?
Why is it so hard for us to remember that positive momentum begets positive results?
Call it the Golden Rule or call it Karma -- it’s all the same.
We all need to just simmer down inside. This means not just controlling our outward behavior, but also controlling our internal responses, taking steps to lower heart rates and letting the feelings subside.
Are you too angry for your own good? Take this test I found at goodtoknow.com and gauge your level of hostility.
1. Have you ever been so angry that you've thrown things or slammed doors?
2. Do you tend to remember irritating incidents and get mad all over again?
3. Do little annoyances have a way of adding up during the day leaving you frustrated and impatient?
4. Do you count if the customer ahead of you in the express checkout has more than ten items?
5. If the barber/stylist takes off more than you wanted do you fume for days about it?
6. When someone cuts you off in traffic do you react in an inappropriate manner?
7. Have you dropped any friends because they dont live up to your expectations?
8. Do the little things that your spouse do irritate you?
9. Do you feel your pulse climb when you argue?
10. Do you get irritated by others incompetence?
11. If someone doesn’t show up on time do you plan the angry words you’re going to say?
12. Do you always assess words and actions others say and read into them what you feel they are trying to say or do?
If you scored 3 or less, you are one cool cucumber. If you score 4 to 8, your anger sets you up for heart disease. If you score 9 or more you are squarely in the hot zone!
We're all bound to lose our cool at some point, but by keeping things in perspective, we can prevent our emotions from getting the best of us.
Life is too short not to enjoy the ride.
