Coaching Information

Do you know WHAT MAKES ME MAD?? It makes me SO MAD I just want to...


Sound familiar? If you want to manage anger, the only way of doing so is to listen to your self-talk. This doesn't mean listening to yourself talk. It means listening to your SELF-TALK.

It's quite true that anger is created from within. No matter how much you say-"She made me mad!" "It makes me so mad when?"-the anger comes from YOU, not it or she.

Our thoughts about "it" or "she" is actually where the anger comes from. And by changing our thinking we can change the way we feel (for example, instead of angry or enraged, annoyed or irritated..)

Doesn't it make sense, then, if anger is created from within that we have the power from within to keep from getting angry? The answer is a definitive YES.

By adjusting how you think about a situation, to listen your self-talk, is how you keep yourself from getting mad-period.

How? By listening for demands. What are demands? They're easy to spot. They tend to express themselves in words such as SHOULD, ought, must, have-to, need.

Depending upon the context and situation, when these words or thoughts are used they will create anger.

Whether you use them on someone or someone is using them on you, a sense of anger, rage or mad evolves from these words/thoughts of demand when things don't go your way.

There are numerous examples of how this is true, but here is a simple one that most everyone can relate to:

You're driving in rush-hour traffic, late to get home. Another driver cuts you off, almost hitting you, so he can run a yellow light that actually is quite red by the time he runs it-leaving you stopped at the light and cursing the driver as he speeds away.

Your immediate thoughts are: "What an idiot! People like that shouldn't be allowed to drive!! He's an accident waiting to happen. They ought to lock him up!!"

The word -should- creates anger because of its demanding nature. Simply stated, the situation is history. Yet, by saying it shouldn't happen you're demanding that reality not exist as it does, lousy as it may seem. Bottom line: it happened as it should based upon all the events that led up to it happening.

Instead if you approach the situation without demands then your reaction will change appropriately. You may wish he didn't drive that way, you may prefer it, but he's driving that way?so don't deny the reality of it!

It may be illegal, but it's his choice to drive that way. You'd feel much better to accept it and not demand anything to the contrary.

This works for anything in life. When you "should on somebody" you're creating anger for yourself (or them) when it is totally un-necessary.

When you knock off the demands, shoulds and oughts, you'll notice a difference. It would be nice if things always went the way you want them to go, but that isn't reality, so become more tolerant by listening to your own thoughts and you'll start to see anger withering away.

Dr. David L. Thomas, LMHC

About The Author

Dr. Thomas is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a practice in Tampa, FL. He has been counseling people to feel better for over 21 years. This article is posted at www.stressgroup.com. He is also the co-author of Quit Smoking-Be Happy!-see www.quitsmoking-behappy.com to learn more.


MORE RESOURCES:

USA TODAY (blog)

Coaches Agree; It's a Tough One
New York Times
You are coaching the team that is on offense and is trailing, 17-15. Both teams have one timeout left. What do you instruct your players to do? DAN REEVES Former coach of the Giants, the Broncos and the Falcons “No question, I would use the clock and ...
Super Bowl Champion Coach Started Career in WNYWROC-TV
The Giants Coaching StaffG-Men H.Q.
Super Bowl 46: Bill Belichick's Coaching Errors Leave Patriots On Losing EndSB Nation
USA TODAY (blog) -Bleacher Report
all 19,607 news articles »


Bleacher Report

Tampa Bay Bucs Struggle to Assemble Coaching Staff: Fan's Look
Yahoo! Sports
Contributor Network 1 hour, 53 minutes ago Besides prior flirtation with another college coach in Chip Kelly of Oregon, few predicted that the Bucs would target the former head coach of Rutgers University. Indeed, during the lengthy search to replace ...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Still Silent on Assistant Coaching PossibilitiesBleacher Report
Buccaneers Coaching Staff Search: Florida's Dan Quinn Turns Down Job ...SB Nation
Am I Missing Something?The Pewter Plank
National Football Post -Pewter Report -Bucs Nation (blog)
all 29 news articles »


Globe and Mail

Rough day as coaches hit the deck
Winnipeg Free Press
Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list. Ruff sustained three broken ribs in what was described as "a freak accident" after he was upended by defenceman Jordan Leopold in practice on Monday. In revealing the extent of the coach's injuries, ...
Sabres Practice Update: Lindy Ruff Suffers Three Broken Ribs In Practice CollisionDie By The Blade

all 135 news articles »


The Daily Jeffersonian

Billy Donovan, John Calipari coaching 'em up on hardwood
Florida Times-Union
AP Florida head coach Billy Donovan calls out a play during the first period against Texas A&M on Dec. 17. Don't miss a second of the action when you're away from your computer. Download our Gators app by searching "Jacksonville.com Gators" in your ...
Calipari and the Cats wary of Florida's 3-point shooting, peaking too earlyCoachCal.com

all 127 news articles »


Young hockey coach has big shoes to fill
Delmarva Now
Cape Henlopen High School new field hockey coach Kate Windett says it runs in her blood . / CHUCK SNYDER/DELAWARE WAVE LEWES --Five seasons of near flawless play under former head coach Nicole Hughes culminated in an undefeated season and a DIAA state ...

and more »


Father/coach role strengthens CC family's bond
Journal and Courier
Central Catholic girls basketball coach Pat Tharp watches his daughters Brianna, right, and Angela during a recent team scrimmage. / By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier The area girls basketball scene has five head coaches who have a daughter on the ...

and more »


MAU girls coach Reynolds unsure of a return date
Bennington Banner
BENNINGTON -- Mount Anthony Union High School girls varsity basketball coach Leo Reynolds has not been with the team for the past month dealing with health issues, but other factors appear to have played a role. Bennington resident and former middle ...

and more »


Wilkes Barre Times-Leader

Dallas tabs new top coach
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
School Board votes 7-2 to name Bob Zaruta as first new football head coach in 27 years. By John Erzar jerzar@timesleader.com DALLAS TWP. – As Dallas High School parents, players and assistant coaches made one final appeal to keep Ted Jackson on Monday ...

and more »


USA TODAY

Charleston coach Cremins says he was physically exhausted
USA TODAY
20, 2011, file photo, Charleston coach Bobby Cremins signals to his players during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game against Louisville, in Louisville, Ky. By Timothy D. Easley, AP In this Dec. 20, 2011, file photo, Charleston coach ...
Cougars' Cremins says physical exhaustion, doctor's advice led him to step ...Washington Post
What does C of C do post-Cremins?Charleston Post Courier
Bobby Cremins: 'Team play has lifted my spirits'Live 5 News

all 47 news articles »


After lots of coaching failures, Bulls got right guy in Tom Thibodeau
Chicago Sun-Times
Thibs was born to be a hoops coach. Take the job away from him, and what would be left? Two lidless eyeballs? A puddle? June 23, 2010. ''We talked to coaches, players, everyone. It was evident Tom was really a fit for us and the philosophy of the ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007