Anger

I'll invent two scenes to entertain you:

Scene 1. I leave work to drive home on the expressway. In this scene I begin with the attitude that everyone is likely to be tired and easily distracted so I may as well be patient and attentive. As I am easing along at the speed limit in the center lane, a light truck blasts around me from the left and down the off ramp. I'm startled by this so I react angrily, "Hey, where'd you get your license, the supermarket?" By the time I have traveled 1/2 mile, I'm over it.

Scene 2. I leave work to drive home on the expressway. In this scene I begin with the attitude that everyone should be paying attention; after all, this is high speed, jammed up traffic. I know they aren't all that attentive, because I drive this expressway every work day. I really hate that. It's stupid, it's dangerous, and these jerks should get tickets. But as usual the cops aren't around. As I am "white knuckling" along at the speed limit in the center lane, a light truck blasts around me from the left and down the off ramp. I'm startled by this so I lose my temper and chase that 4X4 down the ramp in my compact car.

The only thing different in these scenes is my attitude. So what made me lose my temper? The foolish driver, or my absolutistic, commanding, demanding, intolerant, attitude?

And which will serve me better, my reaction in the first scene, or my reaction in the second?

Read Anger-How to Live With and Without It and How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable About Anything-Yes, Anything! both by Albert Ellis, Ph. D.; also, try What Do I Do with My Anger: Hold It In or Let It Out? by Ray DiGiuseppe. This is on audiotape or CD. You can get any of these at the Albert Ellis Institute.

Links on 24-7 Help:

Links to other sites:

Anger

Inside REBT

Policies and FAQ

Resources