10 Reasons to Slow Your Anger

Good sense makes a man slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. –Proverbs 19:11

It is not the easiest pill to swallow, but being slow to anger is the best medicine. Here’s 10 reasons why it is best to let it go:

1. Winston Churchill said, “A man is about as big as the things that make him angry.” Let that quote sink in if the little things make you angry.
2. Not getting angry is a true test of self-mastery. Do you have enough restraint over your mind to not give into your emotions?
3. To not retaliate may be perceived as weakness, but this is the easy way. Isn’t it better to have the strength of a calm mind? As Marcus Aurelius put it, “The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.”
4. What is the offense? Does the offender deem this as offensive or are they acting in a way they perceive to be right?
5. A city breached and left defenseless are those who cannot control their temper. –Proverbs 25:28. What’s the translation here? Without the proper defenses in place, you are vulnerable. An angry man does not make good decisions, and poor decisions are a liability.
6. The high road, your glory, is to overlook it. When the offender realizes his errors, the onus is on him to make it right.
7. The low road, which is shameful, is to point out the offence. Do this, and chances are the offender will care less about rectifying the mistake.
8. Is this something you will be angry about tomorrow? Only if you stoke the fire.
9. When anger rises, think of the consequences. –Confucius
10. Take a deep breath. Count to ten or a hundred. Do what is right and you can’t go wrong.