How to stop being frustrated

Spirit-driven leadership is marked by the ability to control the tongue, creating space for wisdom and discernment to drop in before responding.

Most of what frustrates us in life revolves around a deep desire to be right and understood. This desire can be so intense, at times, that in spite of evidence contrary to our conclusion in a given situation, we will actually delete, distort or generalize information that does not align with our position, even if we could benefit from another’s perspective and life experience. We step out of reality and into story. Studies have revealed that the majority of what we think – when it comes to assuming what others are thinking – is not based in reality.

What lies behind our desire to be right, to have the last word or to at least have another person acknowledge the validity of our position or perspective? People that push our buttons are our greatest teachers because they reveal to us where we are stuck. Perhaps within our emotional interior landscape, the fertilizer of ego fuels the growth of our frustration?  See ME, understand ME and validate ME so I know that what I do and say has validity.

A friend was sharing some frustration she had over the fact that she said hello to a colleague at work and didn’t receive a response. What is interesting about this story is that she turned to her friend who was with her at the time and said, “can you BELIEVE they ignored me?” to which her friend replied, “Maybe she was preoccupied with something in her mind or on her phone and you didn’t see her ear piece.”  This is a perfect example of how your perspective can lead to different emotions. Her friend made a generous assumption and did not take the behavior of their colleague personally. On the other hand, my friend did take the lack of response to her outreach personally which resulted in frustration.

Think back over the last few weeks of your life.

When was the last time you felt frustration? Reflect on the flow of meaning. When, in the conversation, did the feeling of frustration begin to bubble up? Did you find yourself eager to respond more often than seeking to understand what the other person was communicating to you? How does frustration manifest? Do you feel tightness in your chest? Jaw? Throat? Do you feel defensive along with the frustration? Do you feel attacked and the urge to defend your position?

It is in the power of the pause that we regain our ability to discern the flow of meaning that takes place within our conversations.

Set up is also a very powerful practice. Spontaneous conversations are often so quick that we do not have the time to prepare and proclaim our intention for having the conversation. When time allows, it is a very powerful practice to simply pause and reflect on the intention of your conversation, or, for that matter, in the case of the story I shared earlier about my friend who was frustrated that her colleague did not respond to her salutation, pausing after the fact can lead to future emotional intelligence. What was my friend’s intention for greeting her colleague? Was her motivation simply to receive a greeting back?

Even if your intention is to create a positive connection, this will wire your mind to pick up on information and respond to information that aligns with your desired intention. Giving yourself permission pause and examine your motives when you are frustrated will instantly empower you with the ability to identify and adjust your perceptions and reactions. The ability to control the tongue creates space for wisdom and discernment to drop in before responding.

Taking some time to reflect on your unique experience around the feeling of frustration will often lead to clues that lead to the specific element that ignites the match of frustration. When you are left with is the burning haystack of frustration it is difficult to locate the source of the initial spark. When you identify the spark that first fueled the internal fire of frustration you are then empowered to step in and put the flame out before you burn down your internal castle, rendering you imprisoned within your mind, ruminating and frustrated.

The ability to lead well in life is in direct proportion to our ability to lead well within our emotional reactions and responses to life. If I see you as I am then when I feel insecure about my position in life I will feel insecure with yours and therefore I will try to control your position, perspectives and responses to life in order to feel more control and secure within my own life. When I am secure within and give myself permission to feel confident in my beliefs and perspectives then I am able to give you the freedom to have your own unique perspectives and beliefs without feeling threatened that you will take something away from me. Authentic appreciative inquiry takes place in the presence of people who have mastered the ability to feel secure in who they are and the contributions they make.

Frustration will disappear when you release your need to be right and understood. Wisdom and collaborative executive thinking steps in when the need to be right and understood is released from your mental radar … and along with it frustration.

Can you imagine waking up tomorrow and going through your day without taking anything personally any human being says or does? Without having the need to be right and understood? This is a fun exercise that is worth exploring. Each time you could possibly assume that a specific response or lack of response was a personal hit on your mental positions and beliefs in life pause, breathe and release conclusions and assumptions that fuel your frustrations. Replace assumptions with questions and frustration with a desire to understand a different perspective.

Be the kind because of the person you are committed to being not because you desire to receive kindness in return.