Skill 30
Reduce frustrations
Consider the real sources of the anger you felt as you recall the circumstances. Anger can be a wake-up call:
"Hello! You need to change something in your life!"

The real source of anger could be our frustrations with our own choices. Instead of doing what I should be doing, maybe I goof off. Then when a problem occurs because I failed to act properly, I might get mad at someone else as well as myself.

Maybe I need help. I need to change a job that is eroding my quality of life, go to marriage counseling with my spouse to restore joy in our relationship, or make significant life style changes in my health practices to show greater respect for myself.

Sometimes anger is a simple thing: Someone does something bad to me and I react with anger. But anger can be much more complex than this, a reflection of something in my life that has very little to do with the specific circumstances surrounding the anger. FireWorks emphasizes the self-reflection necessary to determine whether there are life-changing implications of our anger.

Next: Skill 31: Seek professional counseling