Frustration can be frustrating

Just Thinking

By Earlene Ward

(Updated: Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 12:00 AM)

Just Thinking...
...about frustration.

I get extremely frustrated when I can't figure out how to do something. I feel inadequate, and I feel stupid and I don't think anyone likes to feel that way. When I'm really struggling with something that I don't understand, I just need to be left alone to work through it.

I remember as a student there would be things I did not understand. There would seem to be a block there until something would click and it would all make sense. I would often wonder afterward why it had taken me so long to grasp the idea or concept, but something was just missing.

When adults feel this frustration and inadequacy over things they can't figure out, I have to wonder how much more young people must feel it, and I wonder at what point any of us just decides to forget it.

Many times, however, giving up is not an option. We are working at a task that must be completed and we just have to stay with it and get through it.

There is a lot of satisfaction when we can do that, but there is a lot of dissatisfaction along the way.

We all learn and understand in our own way; what seems simple to one person will be very difficult for another.

We can't judge one person's ability to understand a concept by our own experience; nor do we want them to judge us.

Perhaps the lesson is that there will always be things that don't come easy; we need to stay with it, work through it, and deal with the frustration until we do understand and the frustration can turn to satisfaction.