Why do people get so angry over simple things? The original ‘hyper-chondriac,’ author and humorist Brian Frazer offers a simple plan for anger management.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
The other day I tried to walk into a hardware store and this guy was standing right in front of the door, blocking it, talking on his cell phone.
Now, you’d think one of two things would happen at this point:
A. He’d see me and get out of the way.
Or B. He’d remain oblivious and not move at all.
Instead C. happened. He moved an eighth. An EIGHTH OF AN INCH!
For the rest of the afternoon I couldn’t stop hoping an anvil would fall on him like in a Roadrunner cartoon.
For the rest of the afternoon my anger took over my body. Getting angry never feels good, but I do it all the time.
The number one cause of anger? Disappointment, because people don’t live up to your expectations. People always seem to disappoint me.
They’re late, they’re inconsiderate, they’re rude, they don’t signal, they move an eighth of an inch when you require at least a full inch, they’re unreliable. They’re human.
Bottom line: take it down a notch, and don’t get angry. And if you see me coming into the hardware store just move aside. I will for you, too.