We all feel it. It can sneak up on you slowly as a gathering storm on a humid summer’s day. It can come on loud and fast like a Harley thundering into town. FRUSTRATION gets us all at some time or another. Whether it’s a houseful of bickering children, the stress of a busy holiday season, difficulties at the office. How do you deal with it?Do you yell and scream and throw things at the wall, or get real quiet and feel the need to hide away for a while in a dark room? Do you confront the issue at hand to get it out in the open and clear the air, or do you let it go, believing that it will look like less of a problem in the light of a new day?
I tend to do a bit of everything depending on the source of the FRUSTRATION, and the situation I find myself in. Usually, I’ll get really quiet as I try to calm down. Sometimes I will ignore it, knowing that despite the way I feel, it isn’t worth making an issue over. However sometimes I can’t hold it in any more and I start yelling.
Online, I am always very aware of the fact that everything I do is caught forever in a public forum, and I think twice about going with my gut reactions. Sure, I see things that frustrate me at times, but I always force myself to step back and take a deep breath, let the matter sit before posting. And usually, if I’ve written something in response to a FRUSTRATION, after giving myself some time, I end up going back and deleting it—or severely editing—before I post.
So tell me. What makes you frustrated? What do you do about it?
PS I'm a guest over at Simply Romance Reviews today, so stop by and say hello!
9 comments:
I hear you, JK. If it's online I usually mutter to my husband and leave it at that. If it's something in real life, it depends on what it is as to how I react. I always find I feel better if I do some exercise and take the dog for a walk. Our little dog never fails to make me laugh, and I arrive back at home in a better frame of mind.
Shelley, it's true. I'm not usually so wise when it comes to addressing frustrations in my everyday life as I am online. I don't have a dog to walk, but a lot of times I'll grab a book and try to lose myself in it because when I finish it I almost always feel much better.
I'm careful about online stuff.
I'll complain to my hubby, or really close friends, but never on my blog and BOY do I want to complain about the government issue right now. I refuse to though because again, Political opinions differ and I'm trying to remain neutral. BUT GRRRR.
I know what you mean about things that are posted online! There are so many times when I've wanted to jump into a debate but stopped myself knowing that I wasn't going to do anything except for get myself more frustrated.
That being said, I tend to write out my frustrations if something has really set me off. I've written pages and pages on different situations (dare I call them "hate notes?") and then I delete whatever I wrote. It's very cathartic. Obviously I don't do this on minor frustrations but it works. The minor stuff I try to shrug off or appproach in a very casual manner so that I don't make it worse than it already is although I'm not afraid of a little confrontation!
Amy, don't get me started on the political thing here in Canada! I too am trying very hard not to say anything righ now.
Stephanie, that sounds like a great way to work out the frustrations. When it's something close to me, I usually don't do that. I keep it inside for too long and it tends to fester--but maybe I should try it.
I, like the rest of you, show an incredible amount of restraint when it comes to some of the on-line nonsense. :)
The rest of the stuff that frustrates me usually lands on hubby's shoulders.
If I internalize (which I do, sometimes) it's makes life hell in WylieLand.
JK, whether my frustration comes from online or elsewhere, I often refrain from commenting. To do so would make matters worse. There are situations where kind words will help a person going through a rough time. If I'm really irked, I will read a favourite book and then meditate. Then my inner balance is returned.
Hi Barbara, thanks for stopping by. When it comes to online frustrations, I think the consensus is to let it go, so I wonder why more people don't put it into practice :)
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