How beautiful it is to stay silent when someone expects you to be enraged.
– Anonymous quote

In many ways, being in a relationship is like riding a rollercoaster of emotions. You can float with happiness today then wallow in despair tomorrow. There may also be days when you cannot help but feel scared or angry. Although it is normal to have different moods, you cannot let these emotions get the better of you. It is a must to manage your temper if you want to have a lasting and happy relationship. The ability to manage how you react and respond to various situations is a skill that will be very useful in all areas of life. However, for most people, taking control of their emotions is easier said than done. Thus, here are some things you can do to prevent anger from ruining your relationship with the people closest to you:

Count and breathe.

One of the best things you can do when you are mad is to take a step back to pacify yourself. It may sound simple but expect it to be difficult because it is so tempting to release your anger in the heat of the moment. However, resorting to the easy way of dealing with anger will likely cause trouble. So do your best to wait for a few moments such as counting up to 10 before saying or doing anything. You may also want to take a few deep breaths to ease the tension within. These techniques may be simple but can work wonders in controlling your temper. Taking a few minutes to get yourself together can help you think of the proper approach to dealing with a stressful situation.

Maintain respect.

At times when you are angry, it pays to remind yourself about the things that you admire about a person. It will help you stay respectful even if you are about to lose your temper. Maintaining respect means choosing to bite your tongue instead of hurling insults and name-calling. It will also encourage you to maintain your composure and still respond in a proper manner no matter how angry you are.

Practice empathy.

Focusing on your own pain and frustrations can only make you angrier. You will have a better chance of controlling your temper if you consider the feelings of others and practice empathy. By putting yourself in the shoes of others, you will find it easier to listen with kindness and act with compassion.

Anger is an outburst of negative emotion that can only last for so long. This is why it is often difficult or impossible to stay angry with people that matter most to you. Thus, it is so worth it to do everything you can to not allow a fleeting emotion to cause irreparable damages such as breaking relationships apart and hurting people.