Step back from your frustration and take a deep breath. Now is not the time to say or to do something you’ll regret. Feel the power of your frustration and consider this. You can transform that power into disciplined, intentional, effective action. When your frustration is begging you to do something right now, give yourself a little time to cool down. A measured response will put you in a much better position than an instant reaction. Lashing out in frustration is likely to cause even more frustration and additional setbacks. Remind yourself there’s a better way. Seek to do more than merely prove how frustrated you are. Channel that frustration into sustained positive efforts, into beneficial results.

 

Frustration is an unpleasant feeling, but it doesn’t have to lead to unpleasant results. Recognize the power in your frustration, and use that power to make real, lasting progress. When things go wrong, stop and ask yourself a question. Do you want to make circumstances worse, or do you wish to make things better? Getting angry and resentful will take a bad situation and make it even more difficult. Focusing solely on who is to blame and seeking some form of retribution will not solve the problem.

 

Instead, step back from what’s going on, and make every effort to look objectively, with an open mind, at all the factors involved. Take a few moments to calmly put everything into perspective. When things go wrong, you will always find an abundance of opportunities for making a positive difference. Difficult situations, as undesirable as they may be, often carry with them valuable possibilities that cannot be found anywhere else.