Some Hints on How to Manage your Anger and Bitterness

by Godwin Ihesie
 
We welcome all our readers to 2017. No earthly words can indeed convey our deepest inner gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the Most High – The Creator of All Worlds, Who in His Great Love and Mercy permitted us all to see yet another year. May we all make a very strong resolution not to allow anger to hiss up in any of us this year – as a mark of honor and worthy of the inexpressible Grace which The Lord has always showered on us.
Let us remember, those who become angry easily and project this anger towards other human beings, no matter how they want to justify their reasons – only exposes their inner weaknesses and spiritual immaturity for others to see. Furthermore, such people are easily “succumb to attacks of the Darkness or serve it as a tool”.
Therefore, it becomes an imperative necessity for all those who are earnestly striving to recognize and do the Will of God to direct all their attention towards overcoming anger, bitterness and all forms of negative thoughts and emotions – which are the most powerful enemies of man’s spiritual, psychic and physical health. Ignorance is chaotic in matters of total health. For it is an unfailing Law that: “whatever a man sows, that must he reap” many times over be it good or evil – whether it is directed towards oneself, towards others or towards the world is of no effect, the law must surely be fulfilled and no one can escape this fact.
In no particular order, here are some techniques which have been found to be helpful in overcoming anger:
Firstly, we must bear in mind that we live in a world where some people (who may appear ignorant, rude, immature and selfish) are definitely going to make us angry; however, it is an individual’s responsibility to cultivate self-control when overwhelmed with anger. Self-control is the main key on overcoming anger. We have been told that – a person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls and such a person will automatically be driven by negative emotions. It is on record that many are known to be in jail, in very difficult situations or are even dead today, because they of lack the necessary self-control over their anger, bitterness, and “evil speaking”. Anger has never been known to solve any human problem; rather it usually makes things worse if it is not controlled.
Controlling Stress: Controlling stress reduces the vulnerability to anger and this can be achieved through:
Healthy eating: A good mental health, positive emotion, a clear and peaceful mind are dependent on a good blood composition which comes only from eating live and vital foods that are rich and balanced in natural vitamins, minerals, high in fiber, and low in fats. Historians over the ages have concluded that those cultures that eat mainly grains, fruits, vegetable, nuts, seeds, legumes, with moderate white meat, tend to be more developed in arts, science, and are more spiritually inclined. Also, they tend to be less aggressive in nature. This is because wholesome foods give favorable blood chemistry which affects the so-called body – mind complex positively. Those cultures that eat more meat and other foods that simulate the brain and nervous system tend to be more aggressive and highly susceptible to anger and passion.
Those who become angry easily should therefore, avoid red meat, hot and spicy foods, cool drinks, etc. The unhealthy habits of trying to suppress anger and chronic stress with drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking cigarettes, using drugs, drinking caffeine-contain drinks or overeating make the patients become very irritable and aggressive.
Hydrotherapy or water therapy: This is the art of using water into treating both physical and mental ailment. It is one of the anger and chronic stress treatment options.
In some system of natural medicine practice, anger is associated with “heat”. Therefore, when one finds himself or herself raging with fury, taking a shower or bath or sipping a glass of water helps to hydrate the body and draw off “heat” and help to diminish the tendency towards anger other negative emotions. The technique of hosing angry crowd with water cannons are based on this principle.
Also, sipping a tea made from any of the herbs such as chamomile, passion flower, Blue Vervain, Valerian root St. John’s Wort, etc.
Healthy Physical Activities:
Anger, bitterness and other negative emotions are also forms of energy and science has told us that energy can never be destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another.
The enormous energy of anger and bitterness can be transmuted and redirected through useful physical exertion or activities, such as: gardening, weeding, cleaning, laundry and ironing, painting, helping others, engaging in activities that give others happiness or  joining a support group or engaging in favorite sports e.g. jogging, brisk walking,  swimming, riding bicycles, etc.
Useful activities are known to draw the poison out of the body and increase the release of endorphins and other hormones that can change an angry mood to a happy one can also increase mental health.
Deep breathing exercises, slows heart rate and blood pressure, helps to maintain a balanced mental health calm down the mind.
Laughter: Smiles in the situation that causes anger lighten up the heart, and it is one of the greatest antidotes to the darkness and the most effective natural remedy against anger and the problems associated with it.
A hearty laughter releases natural painkillers known as endorphins and serotonins which elevate the moods.
Listening to Good Soul-Uplifting Classical Music:
A good classical music induces an emotional feeling that provokes the body to release endorphins and serotonins which help the body to deal with anger and other negative emotions.
Also, soul-lifting music is known to help decrease the production of all the stress hormones like adrenaline and enhances the abilities to deal with the external threats that can cause anger.
Having Absolute Faith and Trust in the Lord Almighty:
The greatest protection against all the ill-effects of anger on physical and spiritual health is trust and living faith in the Lord Almighty.
It is recommended that one should set aside at least 15-30 minutes a day to sit quietly in silence and to reflect and give thoughts and thanks to the miracles that happen in one’s life, which call for perpetual thankfulness and praises to the Lord Almighty, the Eternal Source of all Goodness.
Prayer: At the moment of inner agitation, irritation and anger, it is advised that one should close the eyes in silence for a brief moment and ask for inner strength and guidance to be able to control the situation with wisdom.
Learning to Forgive: The root cause of our anger sometimes lies in our inability to forgive and understand our neighbor’s weakness and mistakes. But studies have shown that forgiveness, genuine love, showing compassion and understanding towards our neighbor or those who make us angry, protect us against the negative consequences of anger.
An inwardly matured person may even give genuine thanks for the source of his anger because what makes him angry may be a mirror that reflects back to him – the weakness he bears within himself and are crying for redemption. In most cases, we too are extensively guilty of those things which others do to make us angry. Therefore, do not hold your anger for too long, forgive and love those who cause your anger, you may make spiritual progress, become lighter and be happy.