When the angry little monster takes over your body, what can you do to get calm and cool again.
In a land not so very far away there lived a young man name Brian. Brian was a funny, kind smart boy, but he had one huge problem. Inside of Brian lived the ugliest, fierce, most furious monster ever.
This monster would come out at the weirdest times.
Like the other day Brian woke up late, his mother who was in a hurry to get to work and started to rush Brian to get out of bed. Over and over again she badgered, “Brian get up, you are going to be late. “ “ Brain out of bed now” Brian If you do not get out of bed this instant you are grounded. Brain began to get irritated and suddenly the angry monster emerged. With a face like crumpled paper, eyebrows crunched together and a serious frown he marched down stairs. He was only about an inch tall and most of Brian’s was still there even though the anger monster came out.
His mother kissed him and in a concerned voice said glad you finally decided to get up, what’s the matter. The anger monster glared at her and snapped, nothing just leave me alone.
Somebody sounds mad this morning his mother said, just go eat your breakfast. As he sat down to eat he knocked over his juice. Now he became so annoyed and suddenly the angry monster started to grow. His face began to twist, his forehead began to smooch and now his frown was deepening. The angry monster was growing and was now about a foot tall. Brian was still there about the angry monster was growing.
His mother tried to comfort him and said, don’t worry, just clean it up and go get dressed
Then as Brian was getting dressed he couldn’t find his shoes. He looked everywhere, under the bed, in his closet, in the toy box, but the shoe was no where to be found. To make matters worse while he is frantically looking for his shoe his mother began to yell hurry up we are going to be late. Now he was becoming really frustrated and suddenly the angry monster started to get bigger. He was now about two feet tall and his eyes began to glare, his teeth became pointy and sharp, and his face began to twist.
His mother came in with his shoe in her hand and said is this what you were looking for, the angry monster just glared at her and said thanks, and he yelled at her now just leave me alone.
Now that Brian spent so much time getting out of bed, spilling his juice, and looking for his shoes, he had no time to eat breakfast because the bus was already in front of his house. He quickly said goodbye to his mother and raced out the door. Now hungry, rushed, and overwhelmed the angry monster gained strength and expanded. Brian was mad, very mad and the angry monster rapidly grew to three feet and took up more than half of Brian’s body. The angry monsters face became deformed , his eyes became as fierce as a wolf and his muscle tightened as tight as a boa constrictor/,
As Brain got on the bus he was exhausted, the angry monster was growing so rapidly that he was draining the life force out of Brian. Brain plopped himself in his seat and thought he could finally have a moment of peace. And that’s just what he had a moment, from out of nowhere spitballs were landing on him. Derek the class bully was sitting behind him and he bombarded poor Brian with windfall of gooey, disgusting, oozing spitballs. Then Derek started calling him a loser and making fun of his hair that he forgot to brush.
That was it, the angry monster not only grew but overtook Brian’s entire body. His face became as red as blood, his eyes were like laser beams and his hands clenched into a tight fist/ The angry monster was so big that you could no longer see the goodness that was once within Brian, all that was left was rage. Just as he was about to explode with fury and hit Derek the bus pulled into school.
As the angry monster that was once Brian walked off the bus, Ms. Rose the guidance counselor was there to greet the children. She took one look at Brian and said why don’t you come with me to my office, I think I have just the thing to help you get rid of that angry monster.
Together they walked into Ms. Rose’s beautiful office, a safe haven of peace and tranquility. As they sat down Ms. Rose said Brian, you seem very mad and I see the angry monster has overtaken your body. I know just how you feel, when I was younger the angry monster used to overwhelm me also.
Being anger is a normal emotion she continued. The key to regaining control over the angry little monster is to learn to release your anger safely.
Still enraged with fury, Brian and his angry monster said, I do not think I can do that, I am too mad.
Ms. Rose wrapped her arm around Brian’s shoulder and said let’s just try some things now to release your anger. First place your hands over your heart and take a deep breath and fill your belly with as much air as possible. Now think of all the people who love you. Now breathe out like you are blowing out the candles on your birthday cake. As you let go of your breathe let go of some of your anger. Now do it again, take another deep breath and make your belly as big as it can be and think about what makes you the happiest. As you breathe out let go of some more of your anger.
Within an instant the anger monster began to shrink. With each breathe that Brian took the angry monster grew smaller, and smaller, and smaller. As the angry little monster left Brian’s body he felt better than ever.
Beaming from ear to ear Brian jumped up and hugged Ms. Rosa. Thank you so much I feel so much better.
Brian, Ms. Rose said, I am so glad that we got rid of that angry little monster. But I have to warn you he can come back at any moment. It is crucial that you begin to notice when he is creeping in. The minute you feel him growing inside of you, connect to your heart, breathe deeply and release your anger safely.
I will and know I am ready to tame that anger little monster, Brian exclaimed.
Brian left Ms. Rosa’s office so excited but unaware that he would need to use his new tools to tame the anger little monster sooner than he had ever imagined.
Just as he walked out of Ms. Rose’s office, Derek the bully came bounding down the hall. Hey geek, did the guidance counselor make it all better. As quickly as the words left Derek’s mouth, the anger little monster reemerged.
But this time Brian knew what to do. The moment he noticed the angry little monster begin to grow he took a deep breath, thought about all the people who loved him, and released his anger safely. The angry little monster looked terrified as he ran from Brian’s body screaming oh no not the deep breath. He then screamed you may be rid of me now but I’ll be back. In a moment he was gone.
As soon as Brian banished the angry little monster, Derek’s words no longer bothered him. In fact he turned to Derek and calmly said my name is Brian and he walked away, confident that he had the power to tame the angry little monster.
Debbie Milam is the author of The Secret to Raising a Happy, Successful Family. A syndicated parenting columnist for United Press International and therapist whose work has been featured in over 300 media outlets including The Miami Herald, Elle, Ladies Home Journal, PBS and The Hallmark Channel.
Visit her website for more products and resources to help you be a create a life of peace, joy, and success for you and your children. Sign-up for her newsletter at www.bestyoucanbe.org and receive your special report Creating Peace Within Yourself and Your Family.
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