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It’s a simple truth, yet it’s one we often forget when we’re in the midst of our own frustrating moments. Whether it's dealing with a slow internet connection, a missed opportunity, or a traffic jam that seems to last forever, frustration is everywhere. Pounding on the steering wheel will not make the light change faster. Yelling about bad weather will not change it. Screaming at spilled coffee all over your shirt will not “un-spill” the coffee.
Sometimes you may wonder if life’s purpose is to test your ability to stay calm; the universe’s way of testing your patience. We can’t always control the events around us, but we can control how we respond. The frustration we feel doesn’t define us—it’s simply a reaction to a challenging situation. The key is recognizing that frustration is a natural emotion. It arises when our expectations don't meet reality, when things don’t go as planned, or when we feel powerless to change a situation.
Everyone is susceptible to life’s big and little frustrations. So, don’t feel like you are in it alone; from the most successful person to the quietest introvert, we all experience it at some point. It’s part of being human. What matters is how we handle it. Here are a few ways I don’t recommend:
Yelling at Inanimate Objects – Like yelling at your phone when it freezes, as if it will suddenly work better out of fear.
Slamming Doors – Dramatically slamming the door behind you, only to realize the noise just made everyone else frustrated, too.
Sending an Angry Text – Hitting send on a message you’ll regret later because you're too upset to think clearly. (A really bad idea.)
Banging on Keyboards – Pounding the keyboard like it’s the computer’s fault that your Wi-Fi isn’t working.
Throwing Stuff – Whether it's a pillow, a remote, or even your phone (we've all thought about it), it’s never a good idea to throw things.
Frustration can make us do some pretty irrational things, but hey, it’s all part of the human experience. In the end, most of these "stupid" reactions don’t solve anything—they just add to the pile of frustration.
The most annoying thing about frustration is realizing you’re probably the cause of it. Sometimes, just changing your schedule can greatly reduce your frustration. I’m on a lot of airplanes every year, so to reduce my frustration with possibly missing a plane because of traffic, I leave one hour earlier than it takes to get to the airport. I’d rather wait at the airport and read a book, catch up on emails, or call a friend than feel the frustration of missing a flight because traffic was awful. There’s no "right" way to deal with frustration, it’s about finding what works best for you.
So, the next time you feel frustration creeping in, remind yourself: everyone gets frustrated. It's okay. Take a deep breath, maybe step back, and know that you'll move past it, just as everyone else does.
Because in the end,
frustration is just a passing storm.