How to Handle Frustration

In my ideal world, my days would flow with ease—no stress, no drama. 

Sometimes, this happens, and I love it! But then there are those “other days.”

Before I learned how to handle frustration consciously, those days could shatter any sense of calm. Only after learning a few mental techniques was I able to let go of my fear of frustration. These strategies might help you too.

If you’d like to skip my personal story and jump to the techniques, scroll down to Tools to Deal with Frustration. But if you’re in the mood for some humor, keep reading!

Since my grown children live across the U.S., we have a weekly family video call. During one call, I wanted to show them my newly finished afghan—a summer-long crochet project. I carefully laid it out to take a picture, but my youngest daughter wandered in and playfully threw her arm into the shot. No matter how I tried, she kept sneaking into the frame, encouraged by her siblings’ laughter. Finally, she lay down and rolled herself up like a burrito just as I thought I had my perfect shot!

What should have taken seconds turned into a longer, laughter-filled moment. What could have been frustrating became fun instead.

We’ve all experienced times when we want to complete a task quickly but face delays. Here are a few strategies to manage feelings of frustration.

Tools to Deal with Frustration:

1. Notice When Frustration Begins
   Frustration builds gradually. It often stems from feeling out of control. Recognizing this early helps you take action before it escalates.
2. Get Curious
   Ask yourself why you’re upset and whether it’s reasonable. See frustration as a puzzle to solve, not an obstacle.
3. Gain Clarity
   Define your goal clearly. Sometimes frustration comes from not being aligned with your objective. Clarity helps adjust your actions and reduce frustration.
4. Change Your Perspective
   View frustration as an opportunity to improve. Changing your perspective can transform how you handle the situation and lead to positive change.

These shifts don’t have to be complicated. Often, just a few adjustments in your thinking can help you eliminate frustration and achieve your goals.

Remember, frustration is a choice. 

You can choose to allow frustration to overpower you and diminish your effectiveness or you can overcome it with grace.

Here’s to embracing frustration as a motivator and moving forward with ease!

Much love,