We all have been frustrated in life. It happens to everyone, including myself. It is totally normal to feel that way. You feel like sometimes you have to take one step forward and then two steps backward. 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word frustrated means feeling discouragement, anger, and annoyance because of unresolved problems or unfulfilled goals, desires, or needs. Does that sound familiar to you?

When we feel frustrated, not only is it crippling, but it can be difficult to pinpoint where these feelings are coming from originally. It can be complicated because there can be more than one thing that might be frustrating to us, hence why we are here. 

Here are the four reasons that you might be feeling frustrated in life and how to move forward:

1. You feel like you are stuck in a rut

It is easy to feel trapped when you feel stuck. It’s kind of like being in the hamster wheel. You keep running in the wheel, and you just don’t stop, but you feel frustrated because you don’t feel like you are getting anywhere. 

To counter this, we need to do something that gets out of our routine. For me, it would be doing anything that is not going to home or work. Consider socializing with friends and family, going out to the movies, or even taking a vacation when you get the chance. Sometimes, a nice little getaway is just what you need to get out of the rut. 

2. You are too afraid to get out of your comfort zone 

Oftentimes, we stay in our bubble because it is something that feels familiar to us. We don’t want to step out of that because it makes us afraid. But if you stay in your comfort zone, you will never be able to grow. Many of us don’t like change, but that’s what makes us human. We are easily adaptable to any situation, so eventually, we can adapt to these changes. 

It might be scary to jump into something that you do not feel comfortable doing. Try taking baby steps. When you take small steps, it will become a little easier to get out of your comfort zone and do something challenging. Best of all, you will learn something about yourself. It’s a win-win. 

3.  You feel like you failed at something 

Oftentimes when things don’t work out or go our way, we feel like we failed at life and that we weren’t successful in what we are trying to achieve. We can be self-critical of ourselves and feel defeated, and that our hard work is not being recognized or not paying off. I just want to acknowledge that it is totally okay and normal to feel like this. It’s embarrassing. 

When there is a disappointment, it is totally okay to vent to your family and friends, but don’t do this too often. Remember the time where you felt proud or did something that made you happy. That’s a start. Consider something new or interesting that you might be wanting to try out. Maybe start a new hobby or make a career change. Either way, do something that will make you happy. 

4. You are always comparing yourself to everyone else 

It’s easy to compare to someone else who seems to be more successful or even happier than you. With social media on our phones, it can be easy to think that, but not everything posted on social media is what it seems. The grass is always greener on the other side. Say that you are comparing yourself to your peers. Life seems to be going great for them, or maybe not. 

Just remember that everyone has a different path. Every individual has their unique experiences and perspective on the world. You don’t know what’s going on in their life, and that shouldn’t matter to you. What matters is you. You should matter and know that your path will be different than your peers. 

Being frustrated won’t last forever. You will succeed, and you will get out of it. Once you are able to identify those frustrations, you will surely be on your way to living the best life you can. 

Photo by Noah Buscher via Unsplash