Hello! I'll give you the best 360-degree hug ever!
Your question brings up a very common and typical problem. Many of us do indeed reserve our good temper for outsiders and our bad temper, the worst aspects of our bad temper, for our family.
And one of the reasons behind this is, so to speak, spoiled by praise!
When it comes to dealing with people outside our immediate circle, we know full well that if we have a bad temper, the other person will not indulge us.
Now, try doing the same thing with something that isn't put away properly, and then get angry with your colleagues, your boss, or even a passerby. People will definitely react, they will definitely resist, and they may even take retaliatory measures. We will consider the reaction of the other party.
For example, colleagues may alienate us, our work may be hindered, and our boss may directly criticize us or even fire us. But we can avoid all that by simply restraining ourselves when things go wrong and not letting our temper get the better of us!
And that's why it's so important to keep the relationship between you and your partner strong!
But it's a whole other story with family members, who are much more tolerant. For example, if you scold your child, the child can't just change mothers!
You can't just divorce your husband over trivial matters — but you can do so much more!
There's a great saying that really rings true: the people we can hurt are often the people who love us. Because they know that the other person loves them, and because the cost of the damage is relatively low, they can be really bold.
It's like a child who may behave better in front of outsiders, but is more unruly in front of their parents, because they know that their parents will tolerate them and they are safe in front of their parents.
I don't know how long this situation has lasted, but I'm sure it will be over soon! You haven't said what your husband and children's reactions are to your accusations, and what the pattern of interaction in your family is like. But I believe that your family loves you very much and is very tolerant of you, so I'm sure they will understand!
No matter what the reason, you have the confidence to hurt them!
But at the same time, it's important to remember that love and tolerance are not unlimited. It's like a container. If you keep using up the love inside without putting any love back in, it's likely to run out. So, it's up to us to make sure we're replenishing our love and tolerance reserves!
I don't know if you have this kind of worry, but there is a saying that may not sound nice, but it is true: no one will always indulge us. Even in close relationships or with our loved ones. But that's okay! It just means we have to learn to be okay with that.
In other words, they give us the incredible opportunity to express our love for them in the way we hurt them the least. Let's talk about our emotions again. Externally and internally, they are like a seesaw. The ideal state is to maintain a balanced state.
But now, you have the opportunity to let go of some of that suppressed emotion in front of others. It's time to find an outlet for those negative emotions! Otherwise, your amazingly tolerant family members might end up bearing the brunt of it.
Think about it! Have you ever wanted to swear in front of other people, but in the end you showed kindness instead? If so, your family members have become the scapegoats for your bad mood.
If not, it may be that your inner self has suppressed emotions more strongly, making you willingly and voluntarily tolerant of others.
I don't know why this is the case, but it doesn't matter! What's important is how to find a non-harmful outlet for your bad emotions. And when I say "bad emotions," I don't just mean those you have with outsiders—I mean those you have with family members too!
The great news is that outsiders can't hurt you. And family members can't keep hurting you either!
It's time to let go of those bad emotions! They're not good for your health, so it's important to find a way to let them out.
I highly recommend that you go do some exercise! Try competitive sports like boxing or basketball. This is not suitable for women.
You can also go for a run or do yoga! These are all things that can make our brains secrete more dopamine and promote our sense of happiness.
Second, I have another great suggestion for you! You should write down your emotions, behaviors, mental activities, and so on. It doesn't matter if you're a great writer or not, just write it down!
Guess what? Writing itself has a healing effect!
And there's more! You can also go and talk to a counselor. Find out the underlying reasons and more targeted ways to deal with them.
I am a counselor who is often both Buddhist and pessimistic, but I also love to be positive and motivated! The world is a wonderful place, and I love you all!
Comments
I feel so conflicted inside. People see me as this calm and collected person, but once I'm behind closed doors, it's a whole different story. The moment I spot things out of place or the kids making a mess, my patience just vanishes and I end up yelling. It's like there are two sides to me, and the one at home is hurting those I love the most, yet I can't seem to control it.
It's frustrating because everyone thinks I'm this composed individual with no edge, but in my own house, I transform into someone who raises their voice over the smallest things. Even my husband has had to tell me off for losing my temper. I do try to change after reading those heartwarming articles about family values, but it never lasts. My irritability always comes back, and I know it's damaging my relationships with my loved ones.
Sometimes I wonder how I've become this person who's gentle outside but turns into a yeller at home. I used to ignore advice from my family, sticking to my ways. But now, every time I raise my voice, I feel this guilt eating away at me. I want to be better, to be the nurturing presence my family deserves, but breaking this cycle seems so hard.