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10 Steps to Overcoming Anger
by Steve Arterburn from New Life Ministries

1. One of the key steps to overcoming anger is to identify the object of your anger. Many people who struggle with chronic anger aren't even sure what they're angry about. When you identify what you're angry about you can begin the process of dealing with it.
   
2. One of the goals of an angry person can be to draw attention to
   themselves. They often feel that negative attention is better than no
   attention at all. If you don't feel loved or needed, this may be a root
   cause of your anger.
   
3. Accept the fact that most things in the world are out of your
   control. If you try to continually control your family, friends or
   circumstances you will find the result frustrating.  
   
4. The root of your anger may lie in a lack of forgiveness. If you've
   never forgiven someone who's hurt you, you're caught in a vicious trap
   that will ultimately destroy you.
   
5. Many who struggle with anger hate themselves. Self-hatred can be
   used as a tool to control your emotions. You may need to learn new
   skills to control your emotions in a positive way.  
   
6. You may be angry about things your family or friends have done
   to you in the past, even decades ago. This is called residual anger.
   It is possible to resolve this anger and move on with your life, but you
   must be willing to spend time identifying the root of your problem and
   choosing to forgive those who have hurt you.
   
7. There are some legitimate physical causes for anger. If you
   suspect your problem may be related to a chemical imbalance in your
   body, be evaluated by a qualified psychiatrist.
   
8. In truth, no one can "make you angry," even though they can
   provoke you. You can control your response to people and
   circumstances.
   
9. There is a place for "righteous anger," when one of God's
   principles is violated. Scripture does admonish us to "not let the sun
   go down on our anger" though. In other words, when you feel angry, it
   is important to deal with it and move past it as soon as possible.
   
10. If you or a family member is struggling with anger issues, they're not likely to go away by themselves. It is necessary to identify the
    cause of the anger and take proactive steps to resolve it. 

Help is available, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. New Life Ministries has resource materials about anger and we have caring Christian professionals available to speak with you. You can contact us at 1-800-NEW-LIFE.

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