Learning How to Move Past Frustrations

Feeling frustrated is a natural part of life that comes as the response to disappointment. In life, people feel frustrated at other people as well as towards things that are very much out of their control, such as traffic. Some individuals deal with their frustrations more effectively than others. If you feel as though you harp on frustrations, finding it difficult to move past them, then it's important to learn how to free yourself from frustrations' emotional constraints.

Acceptance

• The first thing to do when you are feeling frustrated is to accept the feeling of frustration and the events leading up to it. Most likely, the thing that caused you to feel frustrated is over and done with -- a thing of the past. As such, it is important to help yourself move forward by recognizing that the event took place, accepting the fact that you feel frustrated from it and understanding that there is nothing you can do to change what happened.

Forward Focus

• Having a forward focus helps people move past their frustrations. A forward focus means to fix yourself on the future and the things that you can look forward to. For instance, if you feel frustrated about a wedding vendor who didn't return your call timely, move past your frustration by focusing on the upcoming wedding. If you stay in the same mindset of feeling frustrated, you will not be able to enjoy the things that take place in the present or future.

Distraction

• Distraction helps some people overcome feelings of frustration. People may choose to participate in a group yoga class, meditate in private, go to the movies, read a book, perform a word puzzle, go on a jog or play with their dogs to move past frustrations. Distractions are effective for forcing your mind to focus on something else, rather than the issue that made you frustrated. You can regroup and feel refreshed from the emotional draining that feeling frustrated has on you.

Therapeutic Help

• Some people are unable to move past their frustrations because they have anger management issues. If this is the case, professional therapeutic help will benefit the person who cannot overcome his frustrations. A therapist, counselor or psychologist can provide you with exercises to practice overcoming frustrations in an effective and efficient manner. Something you can do at home, as a therapeutic exercise, is write in a journal about why you feel frustrated and write down ideas for ways to make yourself feel better. Another therapeutic intervention idea is to phone a friend and talk through your frustrations with her.