FRUSTRATION CAN BE YOUR FRIEND

Frustrations have been cited for the reason many have quit they jobs, changed their teams or even sort marital counseling. Frustrations have been viewed by many to be something very negative and bad yet what many do not understand is that frustrations can be something good.

According to Wikipedia, frustration is a common emotional response to opposition related to anger and disappointment. It arises from perceived resistance to the fulfillment of individual will. The greater the obstruction, and the greater the will, the more frustration is likely to be. Frustrations may arise from internal conflicts such as challenges in fulfilling personal goals and desires or may be caused by external forces such as a blocked road or a difficult task.

Frustration can be considered a problem-response behavior. We can chose to either respond or react when frustrated. In reacting one may react with anger and attack or behave irrationally causing more damage not only to others but to self. On the other hand one may chose to respond with rational problem-solving methods to overcome the barrier. Remember that it is not what happens to you but rather what happens in you that matters in life.

In a negative way, the frustrated individual may perceive the source of frustration to be outside of their control and thus the frustration will continue to build leading eventually to further problematic behavior e.g. violence or even depression. On the positive side, this frustration will build until a level that is too great for the individual to contend with, and thus produce action directed at solving the inherent problem.

Many successful people have handled frustration in the positive way. When they have let their frustration produce action directed at solving the inherent problem they have become famous. Isaac Newton was frustrated to some extend by the fact that the apple from the tree fell down instead of going up and thus discovered the law of gravity. There are those like Martin Luther who were frustrated by the religious regiment of their time and thus began reading the bible for himself and viola came the revival that would forever change the history of the church. Paul at one point was frustrated too by this demon that was in the girl who kept following him and his team that he ended up casting it out.

Someone has said that money will come to you as a result of solving people’s problems. Most of these problems start as frustrations in our own lives and then when we respond rather than react to that frustration, they begin to do something that will solve that problem. 

In his book The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck states that “We can learn from the struggles (frustrations) when we discover that it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure”.  No wonder James in his letter in the Bible states:

“When various trials and tribulations crowd into your life, don’t treat them as intruders but welcome them as friends!” (James 1:2, Philips translation)

So welcome frustration as your friend.