Emotional Intelligence
How to Handle an Angry Person
This Simple Technique Can Help Calm Them Down
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“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”
~Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)
Have you ever tried to argue in a whisper?
What about arguing with someone who responds to you gently?
I’m the youngest of five, and growing up I learned how to state my case loud and clear, so I wouldn’t be looked upon as “the baby.” The youngest — yes, but not the baby.
This argumentative approach is not so effective when done with calmness.
It’s kind of awkward, and you don’t seem to get very far with arguing.
That’s the whole point of Proverbs 15:1. Responding to an angry argumentative person in a harsh manner can make matters worse. But when we respond to them with civility and calmness, it weakens their ability to continue in harshness or anger.
Anger in itself is not a bad thing. It’s a legitimate reaction to injustice or wrongdoing. How we channel the anger is what makes the difference.
Don’t let anybody stir you up and make you lash out without thinking about the effects of your anger. Let others act foolish with themselves because you don’t have time for that. You have dreams to fulfill, lives to impact, and legacies to create.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want to always control myself, especially when I’m in a tense conversation with an angry person. Help me when I struggle with this. I choose to operate with discipline and self- control. In Jesus’s name, amen.
