The Problem
Anger is one of our ten (10) basic,
God-given, emotions. This emotion
can be CONSTRUCTIVE or DESTRUCTIVE
- depending upon our
response. The focus of this group is
on giving Jesus a "NANO SECOND"
(just one billionth of a second!)
to help us use all of our emotions
according to God's design, for
our lives, and to appropriately
change our pattern of relating to
others and our responsibilities.
When most of us think of an "angry" person we think of someone who destroys themselves and their relationships through uncontrollable outbursts of rage. We usually picture someone who goes around slamming doors, yelling loudly, and making life miserable for everyone, including themselves. Yet this is only one part of anger, as anger has many faces. Equally as damaging and destructive is anger that is suppressed, or "stuffed," as it will only continue to destructively influence our behaviors and attitudes. Ultimately, even suppressed anger erupts from deep within the heart.
The Solution
Recognizing and accepting responsibility
for toxic patterns of behavior is
the first hurdle to overcome as one
runs the race toward true freedom
from anger. Walking through the recovery
process with Jesus Christ as
our Higher Power allows us to admit
our powerlessness to control our anger,
as well as trust that He will help
us to overcome our destructive habits.
Breaking the old patterns that have kept us locked into destructive behavior takes time. What took years to bring about will take some time to change. But with Jesus Christ as our Higher Power, and the willingness to allow Him to change our life, real freedom from anger is possible!
Inventory
The following inventory can help you in the recognition
process as you seek to determine whether your anger is
reaching a destructive level in your life.
Check the boxes of the statements that apply to you:
I become impatient easily when things do not go
according to my plans.
I tend to have critical thoughts toward others who
don't agree with my opinions.
When I am displeased with someone I may shut
down any communication with them or withdraw entirely.
I get annoyed easily when friends and family do not
appear sensitive to my needs.
I feel frustrated when I see someone else having an "easier" time than me.
Whenever I am responsible for planning an important
event, I am preoccupied with how I must manage
it.
When talking about a controversial topic, the tone
of my voice is likely to become louder and more assertive.
I can accept a person who admits his or her mistakes,
but I get irritated easily at those who refuse to
admit their weaknesses.
I do not easily forget when someone "does me
wrong."
When someone confronts me with a misinformed
opinion, I am thinking of my comeback even while
they're speaking.
I find myself becoming aggressive even while playing
a game for fun.
I struggle emotionally with the things in life that "aren't fair."
Although I realize that it may not be right, I sometimes
blame others for my problems.
More often than not I use sarcasm as a way of expressing
humor.
I may act kindly toward others on the outside, yet
feel bitter and frustrated on the inside.
If you checked 4-8 boxes, your anger is probably more constant than you would like. If you checked 9 or more boxes, there is a strong possibility that you have struggled with periods of anger or rage, whether you are aware of it or not.