Here’s a list of ways to reduce angry feelings. So that you can replace them with happiness, self-satisfaction, personal contentment, and stronger relationships. Learn to channel anger in a healthy way, so that you may begin to know stronger and more satisfying relationships.
Keep a journal of your feelings.
At the end of each day, write down things that made you angry. It could be events that happened over the course of that day. Or it might be something from your past that you can’t seem to let go of.
Give yourself the gift of a full exploration of the feelings.
Do this without self-judgment and without guilt. Once you get your emotions out on paper, you can explore ways to prevent these things from happening again in the future, or you can make a plan to tackle your biggest issues.
If it’s embarrassing to know that your journal resides somewhere that it could be discovered, you can always keep a lock on it, or just use paper and then destroy whatever you wrote. Some people keep a journal on an online blog that they write anonymously. If you do this and develop a following on your blog, you might actually end up helping other people who share similar struggles.
Limit contact with people who increase your feelings of anger and discontentment.
Not everyone is a healthy companion. If people influence you in a negative way or seem to be holding you back from all you aspire to be, you are not obligated to keep these people as friends.
Keep in mind that if you want to reduce the amount of time you’re surrounded by certain people, this doesn’t have to be an overt gesture on your part. In other words, you do not have to make a big speech or dramatically end the friendship. You can simply make gradual steps to reduce the amount of time you spend with such friends, replacing their company with other, more enriching activities and people who can make a positive influence on your life.
Set goals to resolve your conflicts one by one.
People who harbor angry feelings may have situations in their life that need to be resolved. There may be friction with family members or friends. There may be a situation where closure is needed in order for you to feel that you spoke your peace and made your voice known.
Take some time to write about relationship challenges that you feel ready to resolve. Make a plan to check these off your list. Once you put these issues to bed, you may feel lighter on the whole and as though a great weight has been lifted off your shoulders which has been contributing to your angry feelings.
Release your anger with physical activity.
Increase the amount of exercise that you get each day. You can either do traditional exercise, or you can tackle useful tasks that require you to engage your muscles.
Let’s say that you have some friends who need help moving. Spending a weekend assisting your pals with lugging boxes and furniture from one place to another is a very productive way to offload angry energy while helping people who are important to you.
One way to channel negative energy is to turn it into a positive one. If you can tackle a physical task, all the better.
Dedicate yourself to an important cause.
Maybe you know of some elderly or special needs individuals who need help moving large, heavy objects like bins of food and supplies. If you aren’t sure where to start with this, you can always investigate local organizations that need physical volunteers. It could be something as simple as offering to help clean out the pet cages at your local animal shelter. Hard work is a wonderful and fulfilling way to channel angry energy into something useful that helps others.
Use your anger to channel creative energy.
Think of the most beautiful works of art that are appreciated in historical museums the world over. Most of the amazing creators that have gone down in history were fueled by passion. Think of artists such as Van Gogh, and musical composers such as Beethoven.
Remember famous writers such as Shakespeare, or how about your favorite modern poet? Maybe it’s Anne Sexton or Sylvia Plath.
Now channel your feelings in your own way. Whether it’s tapping out a song on your chosen instrument, picking up a paintbrush, or writing your memoir, anger and other strong emotions can be the basis for creation. Doing so allows you to you release that emotion in a beautiful and meaningful way, which others can relate to and reflect upon in the future if you so wish. Emotions expressed through creativity connect us all.
Next: The Power of Rage: Using Anger to Fuel Self-Discipline | Previous: It’s OK to Get Mad: Dealing with Unexpected Anger
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