When Anger Hits, “Smart” is the First Thing to Go
“You will not be punished for your anger,
you will be punished by your anger.”
– Buddha
Have you ever watched a conflict unfold from a distance? When you’re not a participant, it can seem completely irrational, even though it is deadly serious to those in the midst of it.
One of my colleagues says that when anger hits, ‘smart’ is the first thing to go. It’s a great observation, because when emotions take over, if you aren’t paying attention your reasoning mind can begin to shut down.
Anger often comes without forethought. You can be in the middle of a conversation with everyone from a co-worker to your teenager, and suddenly the heat of anger comes to the surface. If you let it get to you, you dig in your heels and become inflexible.