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Why Waste Your Energy on Anger?
Temper tantrums are not adult solutions
When I was 16 years old, I knew I wanted to be an engineer. I was in a bookstore and picked up a book on quantum physics. A man came up behind me, snatched the book from my hands and said, “This book is for me, not for you.”
I ignored him, picked up another copy of the book and walked away. There was no need to make a scene. He was rude and I did not give him the attention he wanted from me.
Having temper tantrums does not make you strong. It saps energy that could be used for productive things.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t confront people. But come from a place of strength, not emotional excess.
Particularly in the business world, at least in my experience, being overly-emotional will not benefit you. And why would you want to spend your precious time and energy doing something that has no benefit for you?
It’s not as though I’ve never confronted people. However, I try to remain calm, in control, and courteous even when I am seething with anger. Trust me, this is a much better way to deal with people who have power to mess up your life, such as faceless bureaucrats at the IRS, police officers, and angry bosses.
In any altercation, the person who loses their temper first loses.
The person who can, at least outwardly, stay calm, wins.
