Response to the Daily Post Prompt: Flawed
What is your worst quality?
Emotions are powerful. They can fuel your motivation. They can help you connect with others. They can generate all sorts of good feelings.
However.
They can also drive you to want to hurt other people–to react and carry out spiteful actions, in order to hurt the other person for hurting you. In order to “get back” at them.
Cold shoulder. Because by refusing to be in that moment with you, I thought that you would feel regret and realize why it is that I am angry at you, and make amends on your own.
Storing up anger and pretending that everything is fine, until my breaking point. Angry words. Contemptuous glares. When I should have let it out as the small bursts they come in as, or remind myself that I blew the problem out of proportion.
Ignoring. Because I thought that by depriving someone of my care and attention, I could make them feel as neglected as I did… at that moment.
Many times, I have let anger get the best of me. But over time, I learn the true importance of communication, patience, and not letting my ego convince me that I’m ALWAYS right. Over time, I reflect on my emotions and ask myself, “Why is it that this specific situation/action/phrase bothers me so much?” It is when I find out, that the small thought telling me to be reasonable, gains confidence and a stronger voice.
I work to not let my turbulent emotions manifest into actions or words I’ll regret, but they are still a weak point of mine. It’ll be a long process, but I can already see the end.
One moment of hesitation when about to send an angry text,
at a time.
One moment of looking at the situation from the other person’s shoes,
at a time.
One moment of reflective quiet where I ask myself if my thoughts are reasonable, in place of angry quiet,
at a time.
One memory of the other person’s good points, which takes off the blinders generated from anger,
at a time.
One day, this will not be my greatest weakness. Then, I shall work on the next one. 🙂
musingsofamapletree 
You make such valid points here. Thanks for both pointing out new realizations and reminding me of former ones. I needed this. I think many of us do!!!
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I’m really glad that my post was able to do that for you, Judy! And thank you so much for reblogging… This is a message that is really close to me. If it can help others like it did for you, that would be the best thing for me. 🙂
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I know. It is very satisfying to find people have found value in what we write.
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Reblogged this on lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown and commented:
Sometimes as we grow older, we find it difficult to find new ways in which we can continue to change. We believe we are “finished” and continue past bad habits and manners of being. A video or picture can give us a jolting reminder of how we need to get back into shape. This post has a similar function in reminding me of ways in which I can improve my thoughts and actions! Thanks, Tiffany. I’m reblogging it in my blog.
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A good reminder. Thank you. I look forward to following your blog.
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Thank you! 😀
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Hello Tiffany Phan,
You and some of the other people responding to The Daily Prompts have surprised me with your long and detailed responses, well done, it is good to see that The Daily Post is helping to give you some inspiration and some things to blog about.
Keep up the good work 🙂 ,
-John Jr
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Thanks John. 🙂 I think a lot, so when I encounter a daily prompt that I can connect with these thoughts, it’s impossible not to write! 😀
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You are welcome Tiffany Phan, I think a lot as well, and that sounds like a good idea and like a good strategy to me. 🙂
-John Jr
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Your powerful post caused me to look inward at myself. The worst thing about me is the state of depression I live in that has become the norm. I have given up on life, making my best effort not to drag others down around me. I don’t want to be “that guy” who is always sad so I put up a fake Bob that acts witty, always smiling when in reality I’m dying inside.
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Thank you for your comment Bob. 🙂 I have battled depression before too so I can relate. Probably like you, I got tired of sharing what it was like to have depression with friends because it was met with blank stares and/or uncomfortable expressions. Eventually, whenever someone asked me what was wrong, instead of telling them the truth, I would tell them that I was just “tired” or “stressed out”. Thankfully, mental health awareness and education is increasing and the negative stigma associated with depression/anxiety/other mental conditions has decreased because of this increased understanding.
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Agreed
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I really liked this post! I could really relate to it since I have problems controlling my anger as well. I am in the process of learning not to act on my emotions. This helped me. Thank you for sharing!
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I’m really glad it helps you! 😀 Thank you for your thoughts. 🙂
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