Frustration is The First Step Toward| Daily Meditation 7.5.23

Today’s quotation:

Frustration is the first step toward improvement.  I have no incentive to improve if I’m content with what I can do and if I’m completely satisfied with my pace, distance, and form as a runner.  It’s only when I face frustration and use it to fuel my dedication that I feel myself moving forward.-John Bingham

Today’s Meditation:

There is little incentive for change in our lives–even positive change–if we’re delighted with the status quo.  It is when we get frustrated with things that we start to think about changing them, and those are the points in our lives when we can take positive steps forward and progress in various areas.  I always see frustration as a sign that something is amiss and that something can be my attitude.  Perhaps that’s what needs to change, and not any outside factors.

Of course, I’m not talking about the petty frustration that often affects us.  This isn’t the frustration of not finding a parking space or being unable to twist the cap off a bottle.  I get frustrated if I spill some milk, but that’s trivial.  The significant frustrations in our lives have to do with not being able to make a positive difference in other people’s lives, not having a say in what’s happening in our community, not being able to communicate effectively with a spouse or a child, not being able to afford groceries or medical care.  These are the crucial frustrations that may indicate that change is necessary somewhere, somehow.

Remembering that there’s nothing wrong with being content is also essential.  I may wish I could run faster but realize that I don’t have the time to do the training necessary to build my speed, and that’s okay–the other things that take my time may be much more important than running faster.  Sometimes frustrations like that come from comparing ourselves with others rather than an innate need that isn’t fulfilled.

When I am frustrated, I always try to take the advice below.  I try to disconnect a bit from whatever is frustrating me to gain a sense of perspective so that I can come back and approach it freshly without the frustration.  Because one thing that I’m sure of is that if I keep trying to do something when I’m very frustrated, it can end in disaster–I’m going to break something or mess something up, and there’s no need for that.

Questions to consider:

Do you always notice the messages that frustration sends you when it shows up?

What are some of the significant causes of frustration in your life?

Does frustration come from something we’re having problems with or inside ourselves?

For further thought:

Frustration can indicate that you’ve been doing too much, giving too much, working too hard, and losing your center.  Take some time to be alone, to be in nature, and walk or sit quietly for a while and remember to care for yourself, pace yourself, and regain your inner peace.-unattributed

If you missed our last Daily Meditation, it is here.