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How Can I Turn My Frustration Into Joy?

woman meditates in nature

Frustration is something that we all deal with in our recovery. We may be frustrated that we aren’t moving along fast enough or if we have relapsed. There are a plethora of things to be frustrated about. But even so, there are more things to be joyful about. Reframing your frustration as joy is a great tool to have. Continue reading to learn more about turning your frustration into joy.   

Dealing With the Frustration You Feel

“Recognizing what we can and can’t change in the first step in fighting the frustration we can all feel at times,” says Harriet Griffey, author of “Dealing with frustration” for In The Moment magazine. These frustrations can turn into stress, even if they seem minor. It’s how we learn to deal with the frustrations that matter because we’re always going to be thrown into a situation where we feel frustrated. It’s about eliminating unnecessary stress. We don’t want to feel overwhelmed in our recovery. “The good news is that frustration is not always a bad thing and can even be a spur to motivation, providing a nudge toward making changes and an opportunity to take a closer look at what, exactly, is making us feel this way,” says Griffey. Assessing the situation may be difficult at the moment, but you can use techniques that help you calm down so you can see things clearly. “Are we resisting something that might be key to our well-being? What is my frustration telling me? What am I struggling with?” These are all questions you can ask yourself to help assess your frustration.  

Pressing Pause

Asking questions about your frustration and engaging with it in a healthy manner can help give you the answers you need to the questions above. Pressing pause is also knowing when you can’t change something. If you’re unable to change the situation, radical acceptance is the way to go. Simply tell yourself that this isn’t going to change and that’s okay. “One of the best pieces of advice ever given to me was to ask myself the question, ‘Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?’” This is an important question to keep in mind when you have pressed pause and are assessing the situation.   

It Takes Time

There isn’t always an immediate solution to your frustration. Sometimes, you must let the frustration go. This isn’t easy. It takes time to learn how to let it go, but in the end, you will feel so much more joy once you’ve let the frustration go. When you’re feeling frustrated, take the appropriate step of stepping back and counting to 10, breathing deeply as you detach from the frustration. If you cannot change the frustration, accept it and allow yourself to move on. You’ll thank yourself later.   

Arbor Behavioral Healthcare is here to help you let go of your frustration in your recovery. We can help. Call us today at 844-413-2690. We can’t wait to speak with you!