Frustration is a universal emotion. It knows no boundaries, no judgment, no discrimination. It sneaks in when life doesn’t go as planned, when obstacles feel relentless, and when success seems out of reach.
But here’s something that completely shifted my perspective, hidden within the word frustration are two nouns: rust (fRUSTration) and trust (fRUSTraTion).
I was mulling over this and started to think... if you stay stuck in frustration, allowing it to consume you, what you’re frustrated about will rust away within you. It will corrode your motivation, erode your confidence, and leave you stagnant!
But if you shift your focus to trust, you open yourself up to learning, growth, and perseverance. That choice, rust or trust determines whether frustration keeps you stuck or propels you forward. I seek the later.
I recently faced this exact crossroad.
The Exam That Tested More Than My Knowledge
It was my second attempt at sitting for an exam with #KnowledgeAcademy. This time, I was determined. I woke up early, got my daughters ready, set up my workspace, and ensured that I had zero excuses.
When the time came, I sat down, fully prepared, focused, and ready to go.
I went through all the necessary set-up. Took all the necessary pictures. Then, my laptop froze!
The screen went blurry. I refreshed it, nothing changed. I restarted the laptop, went through the entire setup again, same issue. Frustration started bubbling inside me. I had done everything right, yet I couldn’t start my exam.
What do you do when you have done all you need to do? Inhale, exhale, pray and call your support family. I didn’t need pity. I needed perspective, a prompt and a push to move past what was happening. My husband says that every Coach needs a Coach...:-)
I persisted.
Eventually, I spoke to a customer service rep from Knowledge Academy who actually cared. He went out of his way to help, contacted my account manager, and got the ball rolling.
The process is still ongoing, but through this, I’ve realized three key lessons that I have learned through my frustration today:
1. You control how long you stay in frustration.
Frustration is inevitable, but dwelling in it is a choice. The longer you sit in frustration, the more rust forms, on your mindset, your motivation, and your ability to move forward.
The quicker you shift to problem-solving and trust that a solution exists, the faster you regain control and move forward.
2. The right people make all the difference.
The people you surround yourself with can either amplify your frustration or help you navigate through it. Its not about avoiding or not confronting it, its about encouraging you in how to navigate through it. Choose wisely. Whether it’s a friend, a coach, or a mentor, having someone who challenges your perspective can make all the difference.
3. Persistence opens doors.
If I had stopped after my laptop froze, I would have missed out on the help I eventually received. When one route fails, try another. Keep asking. Keep showing up. Keep trusting that a way will be made, even when there appears to be no obvious way.
Look, frustration will come, it’s inevitable. But how long you remain in that 'state' and what you 'choose' to do with it is up to you.
Will you let it rust you into stagnation?
Or will you trust that there’s something valuable to gain from it?
The choice is yours.
• #IChoose to trust the process even when frustration tempts me to quit.
• #IChoose to surround myself with people who uplift and support me.
• #IChoose to persist, knowing that obstacles are just detours, not dead ends.
What will you choose?
As a speaker and coach, I guide individuals and teams through the very challenges that seem impossible to overcome.
The frustration you’re facing isn’t the end of the road, it’s just a test of whether you will rust or trust.
The song that I surrounded myself with:
If this resonates with you, if you find yourself at a similar crossroad, let’s talk.
With Gratitude,
Annabel
Book me to Speak: https://www.annabelaaron.com/copy-of-home
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