And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26–27 (NLT)
The Bible is filled with examples of people who made emotional decisions that ended up costing them dearly. For example, Cain killed Abel when he was angry and was exiled. David committed adultery which led him to orchestrate someone’s murder. Peter denied Jesus three times out of fear and had to live with the fact that he had abandoned Jesus.
We all make mistakes when it comes to emotions, but we can always learn to do better. For example, if someone pushes your buttons with their emotional reaction, choose how you will respond. It can be tempting to justify an emotional reaction when someone else becomes emotional first, but it only causes things to escalate.
You can calmly set a boundary on how you’re willing to be treated. Once the dust settles, confront the issue by asking questions. Even in the midst of massive disagreements, keep the other person’s best interests at heart. That way, whether you come to an agreement or you agree to disagree, you can walk away with your relationship intact.
And of course, the greatest habit for healthy emotions is a positive attitude. You can choose to look at the bright side. When everything feels like it is going wrong, I stop and say, “Is it really that bad?” I can usually think of how it could be worse and I’m reminded to be grateful. Gratitude is a monumental force in your life.
When you get up in the morning, gratitude can help you look forward to the day ahead, no matter what you are facing.
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