Transforming Frustration Constructively

It is somewhat harder to quiet the mind when agitation is driven by an element of frustration. This is because frustration, much like anger and envy, is an emotion that triggers transformation.

When we find ourselves frustrated, we often say we are experiencing a negative emotion. More often than not, we absorb it like a sponge, and only with great effort do we manage to detach ourselves from what we feel.

But frustration is often misunderstood. It is only a negative emotion if one remains inactive in its presence. However, if one does the opposite—learning to filter out the most visceral aspect of the emotion—what remains is the drive for improvement.

Courage, in truth, is born more from frustration than from joy or ecstasy. The movement for universal suffrage, for instance, began with the frustration of women, outraged at being denied the right to vote by the society of the time.

Had they lacked the courage to transform their reality, they would certainly never have gained that natural right. It took resolve to speak out, but one cannot deny how crucial their frustration was in fuelling their motivation.

Similarly, our mental attitude predisposes us to many things. We may take on the attitude of a sponge, reacting to everything in a deeply visceral manner, or we may learn to filter the information we absorb, allowing us to overcome our struggles.

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