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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Keeping the peace

The mood of one person can effect the milieu of an entire household. All it takes is one miserable and unhappy person to create gloom and despair.  Yet all it takes is one content and happy person to create joy and comfort.

It can be said that anger is the most difficult of all human characteristics to overcome. The reason for this is we are born with the innate desire to fend for ourselves and to protect what we perceive to be our own. We protect our homes, our children, and our pride.

Thus, when someone inadvertently or intentionally treads on what is ours, we have a natural tendency to respond in a negative way. We lash out either verbally or physically. We become gloomy and unpleasant. And, hence, so too does our anger morph out into the room. It spreads like the plague and so too does the gloom.

Yet there is something unique about human beings over every other creature that roams the planet, and that is the ability to Adapt and to Control our environment. While we can succumb to our innate desire to defend, protect and become angry, we can also control this desire.

We as humans learn that the best way to control our lives is to create a happy, copacetic personality. Then we see for ourselves that not only are we happier, the people around us are happier too.

The Mayo Clinic lists a variety of tips to help cope with anger and frustration, such as thinking before you speak and taking a time out.  While all of us will find a unique method for dealing with stressful moments, perhaps the best of all is to realize that life has a greater meaning than this moment. 

Consider, if you will, the wisdom of Jesus (Matthew 5: 11-12):
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
So perhaps the best way of keeping the peace is to swallow your pride, take the hit, and move on.  The nice feeling of solace that follows maintaining peace might be the greatest gift we can give this Christmas season.

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