What Is a Short Temper Fuse Really About?

[Joyce Shafer]

We all experience having a short fuse at times, though some seem to have this more often. What’s really going on; and can two simple methods make a difference?

Thoughts that motivated my recent article, “Do You Experience Mixed Feelings About Being Patient and Tolerant?” didn’t stop when I typed the last word. I’d likened getting to the end of your patience or tolerance to a glass filling with liquid until it spills over. It’s the same with losing—or loosing—your temper.

My thoughts about why some people seem to have shorter “fuses” or what makes ours shorten at times brought to mind that same glass and what must be going on inside it: It either never really empties of negative emotions about many or particular matters, which means a lot of frustration and anger stays in that container—like a larger amount of aged oil under a smaller amount of new water—or maybe it fills up a bit more quickly than we might prefer.

The words temper and temperance nudged me to look up their definitions. I knew that temper meant to modify into proper proportions, which includes feelings, thoughts, words, and actions. My dictionary also mentions to make suitable, desirable, or free from excess by mingling with something else; to moderate, mollify; to fit, adapt; calmness of mind; composure. Temperance is defined as self-restraint in conduct, expression, indulgences; moderation.

Based on these definitions, we are or appear to be in a state of even temper or temperance, until someone does something or something happens that triggers us to think a certain way and attach a personal interpretation or meaning to it that throws us off balance. Our initial thoughts and the ones that follow cause us to lose our composure or self-restraint.

Ah… and there’s a good question to keep in mind: are you more often in a state of composure or one of self-restraint? You can see which of the two would lead to living with a shorter fuse.

It’s likely that deeply angry, frustrated people exist with as much self-restraint as they can muster instead of feeling composed more of the time. So, it makes sense that their ability to stay composed might be hampered at times, which happens to all of us at one time or another. Add anything else into their “mix,” and they can easily short-circuit because they work harder than anyone imagines to maintain self-restraint. If you’ve ever struggled to maintain temper or practiced self-restraint, you understand.

Whether from a psychological or spiritual perspective, short fuse or short-circuit demonstrates a need for a different power operating in your life than you’re using in that moment, and possibly the rest of the time. This power is an inner one—expanded conscious awareness, not will power, which is a self-imposed trap that puts our attention on what we judge as wrong with us. This power is one of head and heart alignment, which allows you to BE in accord with your Best Self and with the fact there is always a bigger-picture dynamic going on, not just the dynamic you identify with.

When we lose our temper, we are doubly frustrated because we identify with the painful fear that envelops us: we fear the loss of something or something more. Think of the last time you felt angry. What did you fear you might lose or felt you had lost? If your answer is, “I don’t know,” here’s my next question: if you DID know, what might it be? This is a great question because it causes your mind to seek, find, and provide the true answer. Once you know that, you can find a way to address the fear and your anger, if you choose to.

Everyone gets angry. It’s a normal human emotion, and a bit like the story, Goldilocks: too much, too little, just right. Severe anger or a consistently short fuse may need management, whether this is addressed by a therapist or counselor, a coach, or a well-written book on the topic.

When you feel angry, it’s important to take up to five slow, deep breaths. This isn’t as lame as it may sound, if you’ve never tried it. Try it now. It will relax you, at least some. When tense, your breath gets shallow; your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen to help you think clearly. It’s easier to temper strained emotions, or choose to, if you can think straight.

Also, every day write down or think about at least five things you appreciate and are thankful for. This IS important, especially if your thoughts stay focused on the “oil” more than the “water.” Even better is to really FEEL your appreciation for whatever you list. Add genuine appreciation thoughts and feelings to your container each day to push out some of the bad energy—displace some of that old oil with fresh, energizing water.

I recall waiting for the express train at Penn Station in Manhattan. All around me were people of different races, cultures, and beliefs. Even though some demonstrated loss of temper, I was awed that we all got along as well as we did in the city—because we made an effort to do so—because there was more to gain and too much to lose if we didn’t make the effort.

My point is to ask you to address loss of temper as needed, and place your focus on how well you actually do, for the most part, and expand this. For example, you know how someone might take a test and get 95 out of 100, but focuses on the fact 5 were missed? We tend to be like that at times: we focus on what’s not working, as though it’s the only truth, and forget to notice and appreciate the percentage that is working, all things considered.

Based on what you’ve read here, what will you appreciate more about you and your life this week?

Practice makes progress.
© Joyce Shafer

You are welcome to use this article in your newsletter or on your blog/website as long as you use my complete bio with it.

Joyce Shafer ([e-mail]) is a Life Coach, author of I Don’t Want to be Your Guru, but I Have Something to Say & other books/e-books, and publisher of a free weekly online newsletter that connects people with information, resources, and others aligned with enhancing and expanding spiritual Truth in their personal and business lives. Receive a free PDF of How to Have What You REALLY Want when you subscribe at http://stateofappreciation.webs.com

[John Strohl]

Lorenzo & Joyce,

It is easy to advise on this, and hard for those afflicted to take that advice, unless there is tangible guidance on HOW to engage differently. Providing platitudes without providing process is almost a guarantee of more of the problem. Fortunately for us all, there are sources of serious substance on this issue - First is the concept that we are in our egos most of the time in the modern day world, meaning that we are fundamentally centered inside ourselves and using a value system limited by and to ourselves to view and evaluate what's happening around us. This is a teaching of the ACE (Agents of Conscious Evolution) course (see my latest blog post) the complement to which is that if we shift from EGO to ESSENCE, a literal shift from the self-constrained viewpoint and modus operandi to an outward seeing and encompassing viewpoint, where greater-than-self values become the lens and yardstick for seeing and evaluating respectively, then compassion, patience, and empathy have room to enter and hold sway. The good news is that there are literal techniques and practices for accomplishing this shift at will, which are also taught in the ACE course, but a good deal of which can be gleaned from the HeartMath Institute site (http://www.heartmath.com/) Not only does this site provide a rich body of material about the significance of the heart BEYOND it's role as a blood pump, it provides well defined and effective techniques for deliberately elevating and escalating the heart's role in moment to moment affairs, using techniques such a "Quick Coherence" and others that are well described in HeartMath materials. Take a look! I promise you won't be disappointed :-)

Blessing in all you do... and must do

John

[Lorenzo Abbiati]

We have two choices: the path of regret or the path of love.

let's all practice forgiveness and our soul wounds will be blessed......

let's "hear" what people say and their needs.....

after have forgivenen our past mistakes we'll forgive other people's mistakes.....and so we'll be able to love again unconditionally......that's the path of love, compassion.

let's all return child playing and being able to feel enthusiasm and real joy for life....

let's all be detached from people's judgement and we'll not judge other people anymore.

Blessings,

Lorenzo