A lot of people think that just because you have been working very hard to manage your anger, you will never fly off the handle again. Many people go on to think that if you slip up, then you are a failure and your anger management skills are not working.
It is unreasonable to think that you will never get angry again. Remember that it is healthy and expected for people to become angry. If you do have a slip that causes you to have some sort of angry outburst, it is best to look at it as a learning experience. You have likely been angry for years. Don’t expect to completely control your anger within a period of weeks or a few months. Its important to recognize the progress you have made and continue to build on your successes. How are you going to get better if you are stuck on the negatives?
If you have had an anger outburst lately, answer these questions.
Did anyone get hurt?
Did you do anything you regretted?
How did you stop yourself?
Was this time better than the usual anger outburst?
What would it take to avoid this situation again?
What will be different next time?