This happens often. I am in the process of doing something, but a seemingly stupid thing prevents me from doing it. I become angry. That “stupid thing” may be a broken tool or someone’s inexplicable policy or someone not living up to my expectations. Essentially, something that is not in my control blocks me.
Often, this enrages me. I go on the offensive and my focus turns into hurting or humiliating this entity or person whom I am upset with. Naturally, I forget about my original goal. Hurting/humiliating becomes the priority now.
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| Photo by Andrea Piacquadio |
But angry responses seldom help. People are more likely to cooperate when I am nice than when I am yelling at them. I cannot persuade an inanimate tool by being nice, but being angry is no better. If I shifted my focus to what I want to accomplish rather than cursing the broken tool, I’ll likely come up with an alternate solution.
Emotions hijack us. We should avoid getting hijacked. When we unconsciously allow ourselves to be hijacked, we should be flexible/humble/honest enough to drop the emotion and course correct.
