Weathering the "Storm"

As you may or may not be aware, Coffee (aka Craig) and I reside in southern California. We are about 45 minutes outside of the city of Los Angeles. We are not in the path of the devastating wildfires but before I continue may I ask something of you? Please pray for those affected by the wildfires as well as the brave men and women who are battling these blazes and those supporting the crews tirelessly working to stop the wildfires. Thank you <3

On I blog…

You may be asking yourself about the title. Probably because storm is in quotation marks. Am I right?

I was thinking about how we can handle those moments when anger flares, when arguments with a family member or friend or even a stranger ignite. You have probably experienced a moment when anger gets the better of you. Well, let’s work on strategies to help us weather the “storm”. I have been people watching as well as viewing social media and I feel like in 2025 we can do better to rein in the anger before it gets the better of us. Sound like a plan? Ok, let’s do this…

First, take a moment to pause and catch your breath. I know for myself when I get angry, I either want to fight or get away. But I find that if I take slow, deep breaths, it relaxes me and helps me be better at talking about whatever has triggered my anger.

Next, ask yourself, “Why am I getting angry?” Sometimes the current situation isn’t what sparked the anger. It could be something from a previous day or even a different issue that occurred earlier. I know that if I can identify why I am angry, then I can better deal with it.

If need be, walk away. No, no, no…not forever, just for a moment. But be sure to voice it before you do it. “I need to walk away for a moment to relax and then I can better talk about this situation.” Did you see what I did there? I used an “I statement”. It is very important to use “I statements” so that it doesn’t appear you are blaming the other person. “You statements” can increase an already tense situation.

Listening ears, people….listening ears. Active listen to the other person. Repeat what he or she has said to you. This shows you are not only trying to understand what you have heard but also that you are truly listening.

Finally, seek out a solution. This is not a game where you are trying to win. What you want is to resolve the dispute. Talk with the other person and see if you can find common ground or a compromise that works for both of you.

So much unhappiness occurs when two or more people are angry. Anger never leads to something good. Let’s find more reasons to smile this year. After all, it’s always better to smile than it is to frown. Right? Right!

Love n hugs

Cuddles (aka AnnaMarie)