Aaarrrrrrgghhhhh!!!!!!!
Ever had that feeling? Perhaps you've got a bit of it going on right now.
It might not be delightful in the moment, but it is something we all experience.
I spoke with a teammate of mine this week. They shared with me how they were feeling frustrated about an issue. I listened. I was curious. Compared to most, we have a great business. With a great team, great customers, and an exciting outlook. So, where does frustration fit in?
Well, in this example, the frustration was born from a positive place. It came from a burning desire to do more. To do better. But whilst the intent is positive, I'd suggest that frustration as an emotion is unhelpful if it lives with us for too long. Frustration is a derivative of anger, which doesn't often lead us to joy.
I observed that the cause of the emotion was attributed to others rather than recognising that we own our emotions. As it is often said, "Shit happens, it's how we react that counts". Maybe that is over-simplistic. Perhaps emotions show up and we have to experience them, but what we actually own is the action that we take. Self awareness helps us to respond appropriately.
So, why share this. Well, I hope you might find it helpful to consider next time you notice similar emotions in yourself.
What if we could recognise that feeling of frustration as discomfort. As a trigger to take positive action. To reframe our approach and mindset. To be accountable for making the situation better. It might take empathy. It might mean we have to rethink. And, it will undoubtedly take some effort on our part. But the good news is that I can guarantee that you'll feel better.
Try not to have a "Frustrating Friday" (or any other day of the week).
You might feel that OTHERS cause frustration, but only YOU allow it to hang around. I am going to try to remember this a bit more.
What do you think? I’d love to hear from you. I can be reached here and on LinkedIn.
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