There are those days—or those weeks—when things just don’t go our way. I don’t know about you but as Zen as I try to be in my home business, there are some big triggers, big aggravations, and sometimes anger is right around the corner. As much as I really want (in the moment) to fire off that angry e-mail or have a bit of a temper tantrum, I have learned that it is better to breathe, take a little break, walk away and regroup before saying or doing anything when I am emotionally on edge.
Do you know how when you feel yourself getting angry—if you pay attention to your body, you can actually feel how tight and tense you have become? I even notice that I cease to breathe deeply and fully when I get angry or annoyed. I know there must be some survival or physiological reasons for that but how it plays out is more tension and an uptight body! This is not the position to be in when making business decisions or interacting with others. Just reminding myself to breathe and step away for a few minutes can make a big difference. If it is a really big issue that has sent my temperature into the stratosphere, then leaving it until the next day (or two) is even more preferable.
Often, if I can just get away and get my body calmer, then I can see things differently. I may be able to let it go or at least compose a less angry and hostile e-mail to the offending party. Postponing my reaction until I am feeling a bit calmer is almost always a good idea. This is not to say that anger does not have a place in business, but maintaining composure instead of flying off the handle is generally a better way to go about things.
Also: Hostility and Resentment Have no Place in Business