If a small thing has the power to make you angry,
Does that not indicate something about your size?
~ Sydney J. Harris
Do little things make you angry? Minor issues like the way your husband throws the paper on the floor after reading it, or your wife reminds you to take the garbage out for the third time, or your boss is five minutes late for every meeting, or how much of a pain it is to get the ultra-sealed plastic container open for that new flash drive you purchased?
Granted, life might be a bit easier if that paper was neatly stacked on the end table for proper disposal, or you didn’t have to be reminded to do a simple chore, or you could mumble a few magical words and that plastic container would pop open. But everyday human life doesn’t always work that way.
There are unending opportunities to practice patience, love, goodwill, compassion and generosity toward others. If you want to live a progressive spiritual life, it’s important to remember that love never gets tired or worn out no matter how many times it has to be expressed!
Anger is an acid that corrodes. It corrupts good attitudes. It spoils healthy demeanor. It saddens a joyful heart. It darkens a lighted corridor.
Anger targeted at other people or toward oneself is generally hurtful and harmful. It is not a good thing whether large or small.
The better way is to love.
Those little things that get you upset are trivial compared to the greater lessons of learning to love unselfishly no matter what.
Anger is a road to suffering.
Love is the pathway to heaven.Which path would you rather walk?
Let the irritation and resentment go. It’s not worth the suffering it brings. Love more, be less self-concerned, and let divine Love rule your thought. You’ll be much happier and healthier and so will everyone else around you.
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Proverbs 16:32
Oh Evan this is a winner!!Just the ticket for starting –and going all the way through–the coming year. Just think what the world would be like if we all followed your advice, and began each day with these blessed thoughts.Thank you so much.
“Be the change you want to see in the world”(Ghandi–I think). Peace on earth–starting with me.
Blessings to you and all in 2013.
Really needed this and what “hit home” was the comment that “anger is an acid…” Am working to purify my heart, mind, and mouth! You heard me! My mouth! And to know that all which passes into it or out of it is governed by divine Love alone. This way I’m not consumed by food or words that seem to govern my life; and I’m completely in tune with God’s divine will and doing more good every moment.
Funny thing, it is . . . that we think WE consume food, when in fact, an overabundance in this area is sure proof that it is consuming us sometimes — our thoughts, actions, etc.
At the holidays, sometimes as we’re eating great meals, we even spend time talking about more of them! Either in the past or the future!
“Rule out of me all sin” Mary Baker Eddy says, and this is my “default” position for the new year.
“Not mine, but Thy will be done, Mother.”
Thank you for the loving reminder that these small apparent irritants are not life.
OH! What a blog for the new year. If all of us as human beings can follow to the hilt what Evan has written. The Earth will then become Heaven and Hell would be a non-entity. Let’s keep our focus on all the things Evan wrote about and try. It will be worth the effort.
Thank you Evan…I so love what Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.” (Science and Health with Key to The Scriptures, page 393,10-15)
I have so much to be grateful for, so many Blessings, moment by moment remembering all the good in my life, then I can only know Joy, Peace, Hope, Harmony, Love.
“The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space. That is enough!” (S&H, pg.520:3-5 The (to !)
Blessings in the new year and always.
Our Sunday School Class looked at this very topic yesterday: reacting to … stuff. We saw that to re-act is to act (a situation) out again, thus seeming to double the whole (often) silly thing. What a waste of time and opportunity to do something good or at least better!
We all agreed to choose to ACT, rather than re-act, as a proof of our God-given dominion over what we are learning is “mortal mind,” the so-called mind that Mrs. Eddy writes about in her timeless, profound, and revolutionary book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. This “mind” is not the Mind of man! It is NOT our mind at all…it is an Imposter!!
I obviously loved your article today, Evan. Thank you and Happy New-Year-of-Opportunities-to-Reflect-God,
which you do SO well !!!
Inspired-Sue
Wonderful blog to start the new year. I was thinking while driving this morning (before I read this) that my New Years goal will be to use “words that help and heal”(from hymn ? from the Christian Science Hymnal) in my comings and goings with friends and family. I want to publish good tidings and good news! And then I read your blog, Evan! The one Mind is certainly giving me a message! Thank you for your insightful blog and the great comments, especially loved Tobias’ comment that earth would become heaven, and hell would be a non entity! What clarity, Tobias!
I love the idea of starting each day looking for opportunities to practice patience, love, goodwill, compassion and generosity towards other. It’s so proactive, instead of reacting to what comes along that may upset you. Thanks, Evan!