Frustration

This I Believe

I believe that frustration plays a big part in outcomes and habits.

I know a lot about frustration and how it plays tricks on many people. If you play an instrument, play sports, or participate in competitions, you should know about frustration just as well as I do. Frustration can damage your abilities.

I have been playing piano for almost 8 years and just a few weeks ago, I performed a song and did horribly. I played the worst I have ever played. It sounded like a screeching violin; I just was off. I couldn’t play. I never wanted to play piano again. I’m sure you have felt the feeling of never wanting to do something again that you have put so much time and effort into. If you’re practicing basketball, or piano, or competing in a math competition, and today is just not your day, then you are frustrated. If you keep working at it, you will eventually “hit the wall,” which is bad. If this happens, and you know that you can’t do it, then just take a break, and try it again later.

Frustration can work in two ways. It can be productive, or it could be destructive. Many people give up if they are frustrated. They will never succeed. If you are frustrated, that doesn’t mean you are bad. Don’t give up no matter what. If you keep working at it, you will succeed and improve.

Frustration will be destructive only if you give up. However, frustration can be productive if you know how it works.

Perseverance (p–r’sə-vîr’əns) n. Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.

Perseverance is the difference between good and great. A great person perseveres.

Everybody has frustrations: rich people, poor people, cool people, nerdy people, fat people, and thin people. Everybody’s frustration can and will hurt them in one or more ways unless you know how to deal with it. I believe that the more frustrations you have the better you get at dealing with them. I also believe that if you know how to deal with a frustration, you can also improve at what you are doing.

Famous athletes and musicians didn’t give up when they were frustrated. If you ever want to be good at something, don’t let frustration trick you. Be better than that. Even though you can’t not get frustrated, you can make frustration a good thing. Remember next time you are frustrated to just stop what you are doing and come back later. Put the frustration behind you. Don’t Give Up.