The old anecdotal saying that you should never go to sleep angry just got backed up by science, thanks to University of Massachusetts at Amherst neuro-scientists. Their study concludes that if you have a negative emotional response—their examples were for viewing an unsettling picture or experiencing a traumatic event—the response is reduced if you stay awake afterwards. If you go to sleep immediately, the response is “protected,” meaning that when you are exposed to the effect again, your negative response will be just as negative as the first time.
The scientists pointed to PTSD sufferers, or witnesses to accidents as examples of how their conclusion is applicable in practical terms. If a witness to a gruesome accident remains awake after the event, the next time they see a reproduction or photograph of the scene, their emotional response will be much lower than if they had slept right after. Researchers even said that their brains are actually averse to going to sleep, as a defense mechanism.
Just because you’re a unlikely to witness a horrific accident doesn’t mean these findings can’t be applied to your life. Any negative emotion, like an argument with a spouse or a disagreement at work can cause negative emotions. The study points to the practice that you should try to resolve these feelings before you go to sleep so that you can have a less visceral reaction to the problem in the morning.
Comments by Dennis Edwards:
That is what the Bible has been telling us for 2000 years since Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesian believers.
"Let not the sun go down upon your wrath."[1]
In other words, do not go to sleep without first resolving your differences or saying your are sorry, if you have had an argument. However, saying you are sorry is not an easy task, but it is better than destroying your health and the relationship you are trying to build by not being sorry and making amends.
We all battle with these problems of forgiving and trying to make things right. But once you get into the habit of not working through your differences with your mate or co-worker, things build up and you are headed for a destructive encounter in the future. Bitterness will start to brew which if not corrected will develop into hatred and envy. The Bibles says,
". ..lest a root of bitterness trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."[2]
See your bitterness will grow and will affect others also negatively.
Therefore, try to follow the Biblical and now scientific admonition and make things right before going to bed. Tell her/him you are sorry and be sorry. Use humility and real love, it never fails. Ask God for His help and He will not fail to help you have the love and humility you need to say "I am sorry," or "I was wrong." It is hard, but it will keep you healthy and your relationship with others growing and improving. Try it. It is better than being sick a little further down the road or destroying an important personal relationship.
We will finish here with the next few sentences in the text to the Ephesians by Paul.
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth."[3]
We all know what corrupt means. Paul is talking about those ugly, exaggerated, or untrue comments which we make about others. We should not let them out of our mouth. Jesus said that what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart.
"But the things that come out of the mouth proceed from the heart, and they defile the man."[4]
So we will need some heart cleansing to be able to get rid of them. The heart cleansing may involve asking for prayer or confessing your fault to some one strong enough spiritually to be able to help you. Jesus also said,
"Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."[5]
So you may need some time in quiet meditation is His Word, letting it speak to your heart and convict you of wrong doing, besides giving you strength and conviction to go forward on the path God is asking of you. You may also need to ask for forgiveness from the person you have been talking negatively about. Jesus said,
" Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you; Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.."[6]
Again, another not so easy thing to do. In other words, if you realize that someone has an ought against you, you should go and try to make things right. I am battling with this very commandment at this very moment but have resolved to go forward and follow this suggestion and do my part for my own health both physical and spiritual.
Let us go back to Paul and his closing comments to the Ephesians:
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but (rather) that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."[7]
In other words that your words are a blessing to others and bring God´s presence with them. Jesus said,
"The words I speak unto you , they are spirit and they are life."[8]
Your words can bless, or curse. Jesus said we would have to give account for "every idle word" in the day of judgement. If we all knew we would have to give account, we might take a lot more care in what and how we spoke, to make sure our words were ministering grace, or faith to those that hear them. In Proverbs we read,
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it, shall eat the fruit thereof."[9]
In other words, we will eat the fruit of our words, for good and our good, or for evil and our evil.
And now Paul continues by admonishing us to especially avoid the following:
" Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger (sounds like he is repeating the point to make it clear), and clamour (or shouting) and evil speaking (all these we manifest with our words) be put away from you, with all malice (hatred)."[10]
And Paul finishes with the answer,
"And be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for the sake of Christ has forgiven you."[11]
Again, love and forgiveness and mercy are the answer God gives to our hardheartedness. Let us pray that today we may walk in love for one another and forgive one another and try again. God bless you and help you in your quest to forgive and live!
[1] Ephesians 4:26
[2] Hebrews 12:15
[3] Ephesians 4:29
[4] Matthew 15:18
[5] John 15:3
[6] Matthew 5:23-24
[7] Ephesians 4:29-30
[8] John 6:63
[9] Proverbs 18:21
[10] Ephesians 4:31
[11] Ephesians 4:32
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