Christian Living

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Anger in and of itself is not wrong; it is simply an emotion. It is how one expresses it that makes all the difference in the world and that either taints or enhances one's Christian testimony. You do not want to ignore anger, but you also do not want to repress it and allow it to bottle up inside you. One must also guard against relationships being destroyed because of it. So what can and should a person do in dealing with anger?

When I went to counseling I learned about venting anger. Think about the concept of venting. I live in Washington State, about 90 miles from the famous Mt. St. Helens, which erupted in May of 1980. When a volcano vents steam or ash it releases pressure, making it less likely to have a major eruption. The same applies to anger. When a person vents anger, he or she will be less likely to explode later.

Here are some methods to vent anger in non-destructive ways.

1. Go for a walk.
2. Work it off, by doing some hard manual labor like working in the yard.
3. Do something that will allow you to cool down and get your mind focused on something else other than what made you angry.
4. If you feel it is necessary to express your anger toward someone, plan ahead the time and place and even the exact words you will say. Respond, don't react.
5. Learn to respond by keeping yourself under control, not reacting and losing control of yourself.
6. NEVER vent your anger around other people in a negative, destructive manner, and run the risk of destroying relationships. For example, if you feel like screaming, do it at a place and time where no one else is around.

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