Learning to control your anger does not mean suppressing your emotions. It means learning how to create enough space between what you feel and how you respond so that one emotional moment does not lead to years of regret. In this episode of Lessons for Young Brothers, Jr. “The Bald Head” reflects on struggling with his temper as a younger man and explains how having a sense of purpose helped him control his reactions. He shares how creating a mental gap before responding gave him time to think about the consequences of his actions and decide whether his reaction was really worth it. Too often, young men react out of anger when what they are actually feeling is embarrassment, disrespect, frustration, or disappointment. Instead of suppressing those emotions or immediately reacting to them, young men should learn to identify what they are feeling, give themselves time to process the situation, and choose a response that does not put their future in jeopardy. You cannot control everything people say or do, but you can learn to control how you respond. Give yourself space before you react. Find healthy outlets for frustration, be strategic about the people you keep around you, and practice giving yourself more time to think before allowing anger or ego to make a decision for you.