The Heart of Anger is Unhealthy

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV) - Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Leaders can be quite emotional.  Some rely on the emotion of anger in order to get their will to be done or to have their orders followed.  Anger in and of itself is a human response to outside forces that they want removed from a situation.  Psycholigy Today says:

 Anger is a corrosive emotion that can run off with your mental and physical health. So do you hold it in? Or do you let it all out? Anger doesn't dissipate just because you unleash it. Some insight into why we have it and how it works can help you better manage this raw emotion before it causes self-harm or erupts into hostile, aggressive, or perhaps even violent behavior toward others.

 Anger is corrosive!  Anger is unhealthy!

Just like our verse for today says "anger resides in the lap of fools."  The lap is the bosom or heart.  Anger rests there tearing away your very being - your physical and mental being.  Left there long enough, anger controls you and becomes you.  But there is hope.

As leaders in our work spaces, homes, and communities, we can turn to the advice God gives us through James about anger:

 James 1:19 - My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger..

1 - Quick to listen - This tells others you care about what they are saying, and it also slows you down long enough to take a full assessment of a situation.  Listening requires you to stop thinking about what needs to be said next and allows you to fully engage the person talking.

2 - Slow to speak - Choosing words carefully can keep situations from escalating and move you from being seen as an angry leader into being seen as an influencing leader.  Slow to speak means you can take a moment to think before talking (this is okay!).  This may also surprise people when you start thinking before blurting out the first thought that comes to mind.

3 - Slow to anger - Without the first two, you will have a difficult time with this one.  But you can do it.  Remember, anger is an emotion and you should control it.  Count to ten...take three deep breathes...stand up and get your blood flowing....talk to someone....take a time out.  Start practicing these and see what works best for you.  Your health is at stake!

If anger has set its claws into your lap, you can loosen its grip.  Get a leadership coach to help you along the way.  What first step can you begin to practice today?