Seneca: Anger must not merely move, but break out of…

Anger is not simply a thing that happens to us, like rain. An initial jolt may be involuntary, but full anger requires us to take up the thought that someone must pay. We rehearse the slight, collect evidence, imagine the perfect reply, and keep feeding the fire. That is why we can interrupt it. If you catch yourself drafting a message in your head for the fifth time, you are no longer merely upset; you are consenting to escalation. Put the phone down. Do not recruit an audience. Do not make a permanent decision while your mind is arranging revenge. The goal is not to become numb or excuse bad behavior. It is to refuse to turn hurt into a campaign. Today, notice one place where you are adding fuel after the first spark. Withdraw your agreement for ten minutes. Often, that is enough for reason to return.