Put A Cork In It

A fool always loses his temper,

But a wise man holds it back.

Proverbs 29:11

Everybody does it sometimes.  We run our mouths because we are angry.  Sometimes our target is the one who made us angry and sometimes it is someone who has nothing to do with it. 

It is normal to get angry.  But we need to step back and take a look at what is happening before we say anything.  I like to say, “I need to take ten.” and, then walk away to cool off.  Sometimes it takes more than ten minutes; more like a day.  

I am not advocating the silent treatment, I am advocating not talking about what it is we are angry about until we cool off so we can look at the problem rationally, because sometimes what we are angry about is nothing to be angry about.  And, if it merits our anger we need to be able to express why we are angry without hurling empty threats and insults against the one we are angry with.  We can’t do that if we are running our mouths out of frustration. 

So, take ten or twenty or a day or a week and keep it real.