Forgiveness: so many misconceptions and misunderstandings; so many who believe forgiveness is reserved for a chosen few or must be preceded with an apology. Still others feel at times that it is impossible or worse, that there are those not deserving of its graces. And so they suffer…all of them, when healing is clearly within […]
Read more
Category Archives: anger
Rumors and Gossip: Damage Control, Part 2
They all complained about the daily gossip that ran rampant among them. Every one participated in it yet ironically no one could understand why they would be targeted. In the fifteen years I worked at the battered women’s shelter, both staff and residents criticize those who engaged in rumors while also being the first to […]
Read more
“Did You Hear About…? A Look at Rumors and Gossip”
I abhor rumors and gossip. They’re petty, destructive, and hateful. Yet, truth-be-told, I have engaged in gossip from time-to-time. I’m not proud of it, just honest. I could try to justify it by saying that I’ve only done so out of concern for others. Sometimes the sharing of information about another person can genuinely be […]
Read more
To Fight or Not to Fight? That is the Question
Do you enjoy a good fight? I don’t but I know some people who do. Regardless of who we are interacting with, differences of opinion, issues , and conflict will arise periodically. Some approach arguments with zest, others with great trepidation, and some avoid them at all costs. There are times when it is wise […]
Read more
Weak, Meek or Strong: a Biblical Perspective on Anger
The first verse of the Beatitudes in the Bible says, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth.” Like many others, I always had difficulty with the term meek. To me, it was synonymous with being weak. And yet nothing could be farther from the truth. The word meek comes from the Greek […]
Read more
13 Quick Questions for Clarifying Anger
Do you ever wonder why it’s so hard to break a habit? Whether it’s biting your fingernails, the way you speak, or your reaction to drivers who cut you off on the highway, old habits die hard. The reason being is that behaviors, when repeated frequently enough, become habitual. We no longer consciously think about […]
Read more
Anger in the Workplace
“One of my coworkers is so annoying! She’s always making personal calls when she’s supposed to be working. Then when she can’t finish her work she asks me for help!” Recently, one of my clients (a mechanic) complained about missing tools. “We are all responsible for our own tools. I keep mine on my workbench […]
Read more
Adult Temper Tantrums: the Why’s and What’s
Each one of my children threw one temper tantrum in their lives. As with all toddlers, overwhelming frustration can lead to a meltdown of epic proportions. I was not the kind of mother who would wait patiently until them calmed down. Not me! I walked right up to them, grabbed their shoulders, put my face […]
Read more
You Can Prevent Bad Things From Happening to You
In 1981, the book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, was released. It chronicled Rabbi Harold Kushner’s journey of doubt and fear that arose when his three-year old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that would dramatically reduce the length of his life. The following year, my marriage to my high school sweetheart […]
Read more
Joe Frasier’s Got Nothing On Me (Reactive Anger)
I was an instructor at the Learning Annex in NY City for many years. Classes ended at 9 pm and the ride home was a long one. One evening, after teaching an anger management course for three hours, I pulled into my driveway around 11 pm, exhausted and anxious to crawl into bed. I pulled […]
Read more