When everyone around us seems to be in bad spirits, bickering and complaining, we need to take a step back. It’s so easy to answer in kind, but instead we should feel into our heart and answer gently. Let peace radiate from us… 

In numerous studies, anger has been found to have a completely negative effect on our physical well-being. In one such study, reported at a recent conference on forgiveness and peace in the US, it was demonstrated that letting go of negative feelings that we have for someone, due to his or her negative actions, relieved and reduced chronic back pain.

It seems we have been conditioned to treat any tension-triggering event, be it a small accident or a conflict with a partner or colleague, as a big problem or crisis. At these moments our bodies generate and release the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Our heart accelerates, our breath quickens and our mind races. It’s all harmless if the tension or fright is brief and once in a while, like a near miss while driving. But the emotional disturbances of anger and hatred are like accidents that don’t end and hormones turn into toxins. The depressive effect of cortisol upon the immune system has been linked to serious diseases and disorders. According to a recent medical research, “Cortisol wears down the brain, leading to cell degeneration and memory loss. It also raises blood pressure and blood sugar, hardening the arteries, leading to heart disease.” 

“Fareed, answer evil with goodness; do not fill your mind with anger. Your body shall not suffer from any disease and you shall obtain everything.” — Guru Nanak

 

Anger clouds our faculty of discrimination. We cannot see the issue from a different perspective and there are high chances that we may end up taking the wrong decision which could prove disastrous.  

Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind.  

Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later. 

It is always beneficial to maintain tranquility.

Emotional clutter stems from the habit of not wanting to let go. Instead of hanging onto an old sweater, it’s hanging onto an old emotion. Once an emotion is over, it’s over, unless we choose to hang onto it. We have a choice, we can stay enraged, sad or anxious over something that happened three days ago or, three years ago, or we can let it go. We need to clear away emotional clutter so that there’s space for emotional energies to flow.

We should not waste our time and energy overloading our mind with thoughts of revenge. Those that hurt us will eventually face their own karma.