HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATION

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4: 23
_________________________________________________

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog via Facebook, click here. If you are not on
Facebook or would prefer to subscribe via a different venue, please check the sidebar
to the right for subscription options. Thank you!
__________________________________________________

FRUSTRATION!  We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. Yet, how do we handle it?

Some feed it by getting angry. Others squelch it by seething inwardly. Still others deny their frustration and hope it will just go away.

But none of these methods works in the long run.

So, what is the best way to handle frustration in our lives?

Before I offer my suggestions, I’d like first to define frustration. Possibly the best definition I’ve come across is this: “Frustration is the discrepancy between what we hoped to achieve and what we actually achieved.”

From this definition we see that frustration has to do with expectations. When we have expectations that do not pan out, we become frustrated. 

So, how can we avoid frustration in our lives and live the peaceful life Jesus died to give us?

Here are three tips that help me when I am tempted to be frustrated:

1–Set realistic expectations. A realistic expectation is one consistent with the situation in which you find yourself. For example, if you need to lose 20 lbs., it would be unrealistic to expect to lose all 20 lbs. in one week. To expect to lose 20 lbs. in one week would be setting yourself up for failure–and frustration.

2–Change your focus.  All of us have good traits as well as bad. When you find that someone’s behavior frustrates you, shift your focus from the person’s flaw to the person’s strength. For example, if your teenage son forgets to pick up his clothes from his bedroom floor, close his bedroom door and focus on the fact that he is kind, helpful, and respectful. 

“Frustration is the discrepancy between what we hoped to achieve and
what we actually achieved.”
 ~ Author Unknown

3–Practice gratitude. One of the best antidotes to frustration is the practice of gratitude. Instead of grumbling about what frustrates you, be thankful about the things that bless you. Take time every day to count your blessings. If you do, not only will you find your frustration level decreasing, but you will also find your happiness level rising to new heights.

Now it’s YOUR turn! How do you handle frustration? Please comment in the box below. Thanks! 

TWEETABLE: “How to Handle Frustration” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

STAY IN THE LOOP:


In my latest novel, RETURN TO BELLA TERRA, heroine Maria Landro experiences frustration when her son does not fulfill her expectations. 


A mother, her son, and the man who threatens to come between them . . . 

Available now on Amazon.

 BUY PRINT FORMAT NOW.

BUY KINDLE FORMAT NOW.

BUY iPAD FORMAT NOW.

BUY NOOK FORMAT NOW.

BUY KOBO FORMAT NOW.

 

 

 

 

If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend or relative. Thank you!

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right.

Some of our most popular posts:

Horoscopes? Ouija Boards? Séances? Are They Really Harmless?

Are You Afraid of Confrontation?

Sex and Soul Ties

How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit

 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

NOTE: If you are struggling to know your purpose in life, I can help you! As a highly experienced Certified Life Coach, I will help you set priorities in line with your God-given purpose. For more information or to set up a phone appointment, please send me an email at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. You’ll be taking a major step toward fulfilling your destiny!

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!
______________________________________________________________

Copyright 2001-2017 by Dr. Mary Ann Diorio. All Rights Reserved. 

Matters of the Heart is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to discover what is in your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog via Facebook, click here. If you are not on Facebook or would prefer to subscribe via a different venue, please check the sidebar to the right for subscription options. Thank you!

____________________________________________

Join my Team and get a free copy of my ebook on balancing your life.

____________________________________________

________________________________

Copyright 2000-2017 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.