He Who Angers You Controls You

This is something that I have learned in my adult years. I never quite understood the concept until it was explained to me. I was one to always get upset really quick especially when I felt as though someone was antagonizing me. I never particularly cared for being yelled at either. It was as though someone’s insulting words cast a spell over my emotions and threw me into their entrapment of a confrontation. I remember the horrible feeling afterwards, how enraged I felt, the feeling that I allowed someone to get the best of me. Those words of annoyance, disgust, and resentment that spewed from my mouth that I couldn’t take back. That very feeling that made me feel smaller than a grain of salt.

Recently, I had an encounter with a particular person, who for some reason unknown to me, was just pure rude. This is not the first interaction I’ve had with this person and each time I have to bring my emotions back down from a 10 to 1. Part of me wanted to get on their level, but I had to decide to take the high road. I mean, what’s the point in arguing with someone and ruining my day, right? I had to really examine this situation and I came to the realization that this person may have some personal issues out of my control that causes them to act the way that they do. Now is it fair that someone can be so bitter and rude to a person who had absolutely no hand in their discontent? Absolutely not! But, I do have the power to choose how I respond to the situation. I did respond in a sweet manner and told the person to “have a blessed day!”

Someone once told me that once you feed into someone’s charades and allow them to take you out of character then they win! That piece of advice resonated in my mind! Why am I allowing someone to entangle me into their web of ignorance? I had to learn to stop allowing people to live rent free in my mind. Once you decide to not entertain drama and deflect your anger to something more positive that person can’t gain control over you. He who angers you controls you! This statement couldn’t be more true! You may say, “how can someone control me by making me angry?” Think about how many times you’ve became angry and wanted to either fight, argue, or it could’ve just ruined your whole day! That person that upset you stayed on your mind throughout the day and caused you to be negative towards other people who weren’t apart of the confrontation. You’re sitting there thinking about what else you could’ve said or done to one up that person. Now instead of enjoying your day, you are sitting there sulking because your feelings are hurt or your ego has been threatened! It’s not a good feeling right? So let’s not allow people to control us by sucking us into their negativity!! In the words of a wiseman, “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.”