As a new book points out, "you can't be serene and resentful at the same time."

That's from Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's 12-Step Guide To Genuine Self-Esteem, and one might add that if you are easily insulted or affronted -- "dissed" -- you need to pray away hidden deposits of pride. If you are easily discouraged (including by Church issues), remember Faith.

If we follow Benedict: "Be unassertive. If you must speak, do so gently, humbly, earnestly, and quietly, with few and sensible words; for it is written: 'The wise man is known by the fewness of his words." If, in discourse, you are to be assertive, do it only in defense of God.

Here's a challenge: drive with joy behind someone who's driving too slow. Can you do so with equanimity? Can you enjoy the trial? Can you pray blessings upon a rude driver in front of you?

As a second book -- this one called The Discerner -- says:

"Particularly in these days of instant social messaging, we need to be alert to the influence of the 'political spirit' around us. We have to work hard to keep our focus on God and not on the troubling and divisive contemporary issues unfolding around us, lest we react to them by joining the toxic fray rather than being part of the solution.

"While we should fulfill our civic responsibilities and keep a level head while participating in our representative government, the best thing we can do is to pray and intercede in order to break the power of the demonic political spirit that causes divisions, animosity, and strife. 'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms' (Ephesians 6:12)."

Take it from the Book of Job (15: 1-5; what patience he had!):

"Does a wise man answer with windy opinions,
    or puff himself up with the east wind?
³Does he argue in speech that does not avail,
    and in words that are to no profit?
⁴You in fact do away with piety,
    you lessen devotion toward God,
⁵Because your wickedness instructs your mouth,
    and you choose to speak like the crafty"

Anger is often rooted in fear. Fear is lack of faith -- or we can say, it is faith in a negative consequence. In prayer take a deep look into your soul for hidden fear that may be propelling negative feelings and levels of hostility. The challenge of life is transcending all that antagonizes us.

Call these rules of engagement. Rise above angst. Inure yourself to what is nettlesome. Avoid fear -- creating or bowing to it. "Fear is a demonic specialty," says the author of The Discerner. "With fear and intimidation, Satan holds people captive, controlling them with threats of dire consequences. The spirit of fear and intimidation works closely with both the [wrong kind of] religious spirit and the political spirit and preoccupy them with their own inadequacies so that they won't focus on God's Love.

"The political spirit is an invisible demonic mastermind that strategizes ways to thwart God's Plans; to achieve its corrupt goals, it enters into alliances with religious spirits and institutions backed by mammon. It mesmerizes people into false loyalties while issuing demands of uniformity through the pressures of fear, shame and control."

Are you driven by fear? If so, where? How? By whom? Do you drive yourself through fear?

Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18), and so we know we have work to do when fear-anger-resentment-debate reside in and around us.