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Often times when we lash out or get angry with someone, it’s not the other person’s fault – but our own.
We are ultimately responsible for how we respond to other people. When we are angry or frustrated and we take that out on someone else, that’s often due to our own mismanagement of our stress and emotions.
Of course it’s “easier said than done.” When you find yourself amped up and heated, it becomes increasingly more difficult to regulate your emotions and how you respond to people.
The emotional parts of our brain can often hijack the thinking parts of our brain. So when we are feeling intense emotions they can over-power our better judgment, and that’s what leads to us to respond to people in destructive and impulsive ways.
You’ve likely experienced this for yourself many times.
For example, have you ever had those days where you’re just way more sensitive and irritable than usual? Even the slightest word, action, or facial expression from someone else can trigger you into a state of anger, insecurity, or defensiveness?
You know you’re not acting rationally, but your feelings are so strong that you don’t care. In the moment, all you can think about is verbally attacking the other person.
It happens to the best of us. But that’s why we need to be super mindful of our underlying bad moods and how they manifest themselves in our daily speech and actions.
If you’re aware that you’re in a bad mood, then you can take active measures to regulate it. One powerful way to do that is to simply warn others that you’re in a bad mood before the interaction even begins.
This small and simple tip can prevent a world of trouble if you know how to use it wisely.
