Frustration is a difficult emotion to get over

Frustration hurts when you want things to go your way and they take time. Things like having money accumulate in your bank account, not having money issues. Kids developing at school. A passionate love life. No stress at your job. Friends not stabbing you in the back. Not having to defend yourself.

Frustration can harm your life. It can rock your boat when you don’t weather the storm, and you give up on yourself. But if something started it too can end.

How to overcome frustration

In the military, cadets go through a period called Hell Week to see who has what it takes to graduate.

Hell Week described by navyseals.com states, “Hell Week consists of 5 1/2 days of cold, wet, brutally difficult operational training on fewer than four hours of sleep. Hell Week tests physical endurance, mental toughness, pain and cold tolerance, teamwork, attitude, and your ability to perform work under high physical and mental stress, and sleep deprivation.”

During Hell Week some of the cadets give up and choose to quit. It’s an option — you’re allowed to go home. But those who endure graduate.

I depict frustrating periods in my life as Hell Week. If I endure I will get over them. I won’t give up because I cannot leave my problems, and go home. I have to find solutions to my problems. And sometimes not giving up is the solution.

When you work hard to get your life on track it may seem as if the progress is slow. You’d like to be done with frustrating periods but they seem to never end. Use a tool called composure. Remain calm knowing that Hell Week ends… you can hang on.

We all need a break; a long spell of so-called luck where life treats you fairly… all life asks of you is to do your part. Meaning don’t give up, don’t allow frustration to lead to depression, and don’t lose focus. If you live through today’s Hell Week the next one passes faster. Oh yes! There will be more.

As you develop you will pass through frustrating periods which test your resolve and composure. Overcome your Hell Weeks when they come. Do you part by being consistent, don’t lose focus, never give up on yourself, and you will get through them. 

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