Rob's Surf Report

Why so intense, Surfer Rob?

Do you have emotions that run rampant at a moment’s notice?

I think everyone has areas of emotion where, when events carry beyond a certain threshold of normality, they get more or less . . . intense. For me, it’s anger; maybe it’s the ancient Scottish blood coursing through my veins, because when I get angry I become a force to be reckoned with.

As in, you don’t want to see what I can do with a deer antler.

Okay, so maybe I’m not quite that bad. In the past, however, I have on several occasions reduced people to walking on pins and needles around me — handling me with kid gloves, just to throw another cliché in the pot. I’m not proud of that and I don’t want to be in that place, so I analyze it and put it behind me every time. You can’t change history, after all. Nowadays I tend to keep a cooler head, and when it blows up it doesn’t surprise me, it just really disappoints me. That’s another reason to forget about it.

I’ve learned through introspection that a large part of emotional intelligence lies in identifying those emotions that can cause harm in our lives, then figuring out how to control them; but can anger also be harnessed to my advantage? I wonder . . .

What do you think? Can negative emotions be turned to a good purpose? Have you any experience with that?

Also, I would like to announce that I am now a published author. I have sixteen stories in a flash fiction anthology, and my name is even on the cover! You can find it by clicking the book in the sidebar here, or go to the bookstore at redmundpro.com and look for FTP5: Finding the Path. Every purchase gets me some payola!

This post was prompted by today’s Daily Post prompt.

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22 comments

  1. Congrats on being published! What an accomplishment worth celebrating in your life 😉 I’m very glad to read the good news!

    Reply

  2. Congrats on being published. It might not pay the bills yet but it’s still a great feat not many can say and might just be the first step to your future as a filthy rich author.

    Reply

  3. Looking forward to reading your stories, Rob. I will let you know what I think.

    I am having a lot of negative emotions toward a few people in my actual life right now. (I do not spell things out that clearly on my own blog.) I have used those feelings to walk away from or distance myself from relationships in the past, and I can’t say that was bad for me in the end.

    Reply

  4. It has been easier to deal with emotions when the issue is recognized. And then I try to be a big girl and carry on. Laying in bed crying doesn’t really help. Sometimes I give myself a time limit for pouting. After 15 minutes, it is time to get things together. Sometimes I laugh about how silly it is to pout at my age. 🙂 If I can help someone that has gone through similar situations, I try to help them also either with words of encouragement or telling them who or what can help.

    Reply

  10. Great Great Great! Congrats and very well done! 🙂

    As to anger …. not meaning to spoil the celebration …. but you asked …. anger normally covers up pain. Even intense in the moment anger – off your head anger – even over the *stupidest* in the moment things. Usually, if one blows, it signals an often underlying and ongoing *issue* that has been smouldering.

    Can anger be constructive instead of destructive? Yup 🙂

    In the heat of the moment, maybe not so much, but being able to control the moment, and then reflect and trace back the source of the pain, hurt and frustration may just help the next time something triggers the flash 😉

    It’s a process though – and it can be tough – stirring up long lost but not forgotten or forgiven moments – but if you can step through the fires, even just a little, work through it, then it can be a bit easier.

    Reply

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