What is frustration?

A friend got me thinking about the word frustration lately. I like to ponder words, their meaning, how they make me feel, and can I find deeper meaning or truth about the word. I hadn't considered the impact of frustration on my life or in my life before my friend triggered the curiosity.

As it turns out, frustration can be a habit. I used to get frustrated taking off necklaces...the clasps were too little. But now that I am aware of how the frustration feels: crumby! Now I can choose to relax and I get necklaces on easily and naturally. It never fails to make me smile when I get them on or off easily now.

Frustration is a moment of disconnect. Frustration can lead to feeling desperate. Desperation is disconnection. Anxiety is being disconnected. I have found a way to eliminate frustration, desperation and disconnection, and it is simple: turn up the corners of my mouth.

The thing for me about turning up the corners of my mouth is it is a choice to reconnect, to stop further disconnection. Turning up the corners of my mouth allows not only connection but my mind brightens, my mood lightens, I feel more hope, I feel lighter and I feel connected with peace and joy. The important point is to use a tool to redirect your mind and emotions to a better feeling place. Make a better feeling choice.

And now I can choose to turn up the corners of my mouth and to see with smiling eyes. Smiling eyes are relaxed eyes, no furrowed brows allowed. It is a matter of allowing peace and joy to enter your eyes. If you want a simple way to see somebody who annoys you, or to look at a distressing problem, situation or event, try choosing smiling eyes.

The frustration may stem from having negative expectations which compounds stress and other negative feelings. Think about it. We can either have a negative expectation of ourselves or of the situation or we can make a better choice. I have learned to choose better feelings, to turn up the corners of my mouth and leave frustration behind.